Published November 2001

With care, spirituality
can have place at work

Q. We run a family-owned business. We have never hid from our employees our commitment to church and faith-based values. But our religious beliefs have never played a part in how we operate our business or manage the workplace. As the disaster of Sept. 11 was unfolding, some of our employees asked that we lead them in prayer. Under the circumstances, we did not feel we crossed the line in agreeing to their request. But as the aftermath continues to unfold and tensions and uncertainty rise, how do we and other businesses respond to employee requests to add a dimension of spirituality in the workplace?

A. Even before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the American workplace was becoming more spiritually grounded. It’s quite natural to assume that the aftermath of the events will heighten awareness and desire for some to incorporate demonstrations of spirituality in the work environment.

Because the workplace is a gathering of people of varying religious and spiritual beliefs, as well as those who profess to have none, this remains an issue to be approached with a great deal of caution.

Allowing the incorporation of a spiritual dimension to work remains different and distinct from introducing religion into the workplace. To some, it may mean displaying a small American flag within their workstation. To others, having a picture of their family on their desk may signify the embodiment and expression of personal values, which may include religion.

Workplace spirituality is loosely defined as incorporating a sense of personal mission, values, integrity, compassion and personal respect in the way individuals and employers execute their work and business responsibilities.

It does not and should not include the introduction of a specific religion to the exclusion of all others. In fact, legal experts warn that inherent conflicts between religious beliefs and a worker’s freedom from religious harassment can erupt into a “hot button” workplace issue and spawn lawsuits.

However, many employers, in recognizing employees as whole human beings and exploring the full range of their needs and desires, have encouraged the introduction of nonsecular spirituality as part of workplace culture. Conversations are emerging around spirituality and how to nurture its potential in both the individual and the company.

One popular response is to form so-called “soul committees” to find ways to improve workplace morale. “Chicken Soup Groups,” growing out of the spirit of the book “Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work,” have sprung up at companies such as Federal Express and Southwest Airlines. In these groups, employees come together to share stories, rediscover their common humanity and create uplifting possibilities at work.

“People have long wanted to perform work that has meaning beyond merely earning a livelihood,” said Larry Gaffin, principal of the Center for Life Decisions, a Seattle career consulting group, and a former minister with the United Church of Christ. “Many are willing to actually take action to ensure that their work does support and nourish their souls.”

Both employers and employees may counter the seemingly unending pressures of downsizings, mergers and consolidations by adding a spiritual dimension to their daily work, say workplace spirituality advocates.

The movement of adding spirituality to working environments extends worldwide and has resulted in the formation of over a dozen organizations dedicated to spreading the message. Several, including Spirituality in the Workplace (www.martinrutte.com), The Message Company (www.bizspirit.com) and Gaffin’s site, www.spiritualityofwork.com, can be found on the Internet.

Eric Zoeckler operates The Scribe, a business writing service with many Snohomish County-based clients. He also writes “Taming the Workplace,” a column appearing Mondays in The Herald. He can be reached at 206-284-9566 or by e-mail at mrscribe@aol.com.

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