What is Workplace Spirituality?

Theoretical Development and Historical Significance

Abstract

This article is a survey that clarifies the theoretical development and historical significance of “workplace spirituality.” There has been much debate on this topic since the start of the 21st century, mainly in business management studies written in English. Workplace spirituality has been presented as a multi-dimensional construction of the data collected from managers and employees, and at the same time, as a set of values of communitarian ethics of virtues. Its components consist of the amelioration of alienation, respect for the diversity of employees, and intolerance against corporate injustice. On the other hand, critics point out the danger of corporatism, the instrumentalization of spirituality, the resemblance to cults, and increasing lawsuits regarding religious freedom. These debates reflect the historical process of trial and error to reconcile economic activities with religion. One can regard workplace spirituality as a contemporary form of nurturing spiritual capital that has been transmitted against the current of secularization and modernization. Finally, I propose some topics related to workplace spirituality to be studied in Japanese society.