Paying the Devil His Due: Limits and Liabilities of Workplace Spirituality

Abstract

Despite the intrinsic human benefit and potential organizational benefit of spirituality, we suggest that there are limits to the effectiveness of spirituality in the workplace. Spirituality in the workplace is subject to dilemmas, costs and outright negative effects. Successful implementation of spirituality in the workplace requires organizations to pay attention to six issues: (1) net economic cost of implementation, (2) potential for worker exploitation, (3) replacing or substituting community's function or role in spirituality, (4) inappropriate practice of spirituality in the workplace, (5) potential for competitive disadvantage, and (6) increased groupthink. We conclude by discussing research opportunities and practical suggestions.

Philosophical Foundations of Workplace Spirituality: A Critical Approach

“…Brown (2003) shares this same concern by acknowledging the fact that it cannot be guaranteed that organisations will not abuse the trust that is a central element of spirituality. Polley et al (2005) hold the view that there are certain limits to the effectiveness of spirituality in the workplace, despite the intrinsic human benefits as well as the potential organisational benefits of applying spiritual practices at work. A successful implementation of spirituality in the workplace, they argue, requires the elimination of inappropriate practices of workplace spirituality and a proper evaluation of the net economic cost of implementation.…”

Engaging work as a calling: examining the link between spirituality and job involvement

“…Southwest supports these ideals with management practices that are consistent with expressed values and supports employees at all levels with opportunities for training and growth within the organization. The key issue for other for-profit organizations might be convincing workers that a for-profit company is interested in not only making money but also integrating noneconomic rewards as an important goal of the organization (Polley et al 2005). In other words, the culture and the content of the work can make the idea of creating a service ethic and integrating spirituality either more or less difficult for organizations.…”

Workplace Spirituality Scale Design─ the view of Oriental Culture

“…Thus, Cash and Gray(2000) indicated that organizations should construct systems that encourage individual spiritual development to further construct workplace spirituality. Polley, Vora, and Narasimha (2005) pointed out that organizations should provide the necessary conditions for employees' spiritual development. Thus, spiritual mechanism within the organizations will positively influence individual spiritual perceptions.…”

“…In a study on spirituality, religion could not be eliminated since religious values allowed people to recognize unexpected events. Thus, Polley and Jay (2005) also suggested that religion involves spiritual study; however, religion is not a necessary element to develop spirituality. They indicated that spirituality prevails over religion and part of human beings' essence.…”