The topic spirituality at work is becoming increasingly important in the scientific management research, while various concepts of and approaches to new work are attracting more and more attention regarding for instance the trend toward a knowledge society, digitalization, increasingly intense competition, and uncertain market and working environments, or aspects of demographic changes especially in corporate practice. These two discussion strands currently run separately; I seek to connect them. I outline the contributions and impacts of the scientific discussion about spirituality at work for the challenges discussed in corporate practice conversation on new work regarding rapid innovation, agility, and continual change, employee retention, and meaning and purpose on the example of the healthcare industry, particularly nursing.
Based on initial results on German employer and employee perspectives on spirituality at work, I show that spirituality at work can positively contribute to employees dealing with uncertainty and persistent change in agile work settings, promote employee creativity, and employee retention and employer attractiveness, especially among younger members of Generation Y. Thus, spirituality at work is a resource for both employees and employers. Finally, I discuss spirituality at works’ double-edged sword character and its suitability for HRM in broadly secularized Germany.