What is Passover?

Passover, or Pesach, is one of the major festivals in the Jewish faith. It takes place on different dates in the Gregorian calendar each year, but it always occurs in the early spring. 

The main purpose of the holiday is to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt and the liberation of the Israelites from slavery.

What employers and employees should know about Passover

Creating a safe space for team members to share their traditions can help foster an inclusive workspace. As an employer it’s important that you treat requests, concerns or accommodations with thoughtfulness and empathy. Below we’ve included a few things for employers and employees to keep in mind during Passover.

Passover work restrictions

Work restrictions tied to Passover are some of the most important considerations. According to tradition, observers are prohibited from working during the first two days and the last two days of the holiday. To accommodate Jewish employees, you may need to offer flexible work schedules or approve their requests for time off.

Passover traditions

The seder is a feast featuring symbolic foods and a retelling of the Exodus. According to Pew Research Center, over 70% of families participated in a seder last year. Many Jews plan for seders by cooking, cleaning or traveling in the days prior.

Think of the Passover seder like the feasts served at Thanksgiving, Christmas or another major holiday. It takes time to prepare the food and set the table, so it’s helpful to offer employees extra time off if they request it.

Observers may refrain from eating certain foods, above all leavened food like bread. Leavening is the process of adding a leavening agent, such as yeast, to breads and other baked goods that makes them rise. In addition to not eating leavened foods, some Jews will only eat food that has been specially certified to not be cross-contaminated with leavening agents. These foods are referred to as “Kosher for Passover.” 

If you plan any lunch meetings during Passover, consult with employees before putting in your catering order. You may need to purchase specific items to ensure that team members can attend your meeting without abandoning their traditions. Some team members may prefer to bring their own food to work during the holiday as well. 

Happy Passover messages

Passover commemorates the Exodus from Egypt, a happy occasion in Jewish history. Therefore, it’s perfectly acceptable to send a “Happy Passover” greeting to Jewish team members. 

5 Tips for respecting Passover and other religious holidays at work

Now that you understand the basic Passover work restrictions and traditions, here’s what you can do to show team members you respect Passover and other religious holidays.

1. Plan ahead

Passover always takes place during the spring, so you can plan ahead. If possible, avoid scheduling important meetings on the first two days and the last two days of Passover. Otherwise, Jewish employees may be unable to attend and feel excluded.

2. Be flexible

Give team members as much flexibility as possible. For example, if your employees do shift work, give them permission to trade shifts to ensure that everyone who wants to celebrate Passover has an opportunity to do so.

3. Add religious holidays to your company calendar

When you create a new company calendar, consider adding all major religious holidays and observances, including Passover, Yom Kippur, Diwali, Ramadan, and Christmas. Even if you don’t plan to celebrate religious holidays in your workplace, putting them on the calendar makes it easier for team members to plan for the future.

For example, if an administrative assistant has to schedule a meeting for several department managers, they can consult the calendar to determine if any major holidays occur during that time.

Adding religious holidays and observances to your company calendar also gives team members plenty of time to plan workplace celebrations. Sponsoring well-planned events can signal to team members that this is an inclusive workplace that respects all faiths and cultures.

4. Allow space for team members to share their traditions

During Passover and other religious celebrations,  team members may choose to share their traditions. For example, an employee may want to create an affinity group to connect with others who share their same faith. These groups can be formal or informal and can help educate others about their beliefs.

If you decide to incorporate this type of activity into your workplace, make sure it’s optional. Team members shouldn’t feel obligated to educate colleagues. It can be helpful to create a set of guidelines for any employee resource group or affinity group in partnership with your HR team to encourage inclusivity.

5. Provide employees with a space to eat their own meals

Employees may observe different dietary restrictions during Passover depending on their religious practice. To accommodate dietary restrictions associated with the holiday, you may want to provide a dedicated space for employees to eat meals they bring from home.

Embrace diversity

Recognizing Passover is an opportunity for employers and employees to foster a culture of inclusivity and respect. By proactively encouraging team members to learn more about the holiday and accommodating employees who observe it, you can help build a culture of diversity.

FAQs about Passover in the workplace

How can a workplace educate employees about Passover?

Promoting inclusivity and understanding begins with education. You can give your employees a better understanding of Passover and its traditions in a number of ways, including:

• Inviting a Jewish employee affinity group to host an educational session.
• Creating space for members and allies to connect for emotional support, company resources, events programming, and camaraderie through affinity groups.
• You can also share informational websites and materials about the holiday and its observances. Make sure you’re using trusted sources. A few we suggest are https://www.chabad.org/, https://www.exploringjudaism.org/, and https://reformjudaism.org/.

As always, respect and open communication are key factors when it comes to embracing and learning about cultural and religious topics like Passover in the workplace.

Are any specific activities forbidden during Passover?

For traditionally observant Jews, it is forbidden to work during the first two and last two days of Passover. Other restrictions can include:

• No driving
• No use of electricity
• No spending money
• No eating leavened foods like bread (or food that may be cross-contaminated with leavened food)