New research suggested that religion is becoming more and more acceptable - which is a good thing for both workers and employers. The research revealed that employees working in certain environments that support their right to be open about their beliefs feel much safer, cultivate a better working relationship in the company and are more likely to be engaged with their work.
The study's author Patrick Hyland of Sirota Survey Intelligence, said it is important to note the differences between having a spiritually-accepting workplace and religious proselytizing. Spirituality at work is also not about getting employees to buy into a specific set of religious beliefs.
"It's about helping employees tap into their personal core values and work towards goals that are both personally and professionally meaningful. It's about enabling employees to connect their inner lives and personal passions with their day-to-day work," Hyland said.
The study, which was presented at the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology's annual conference earlier this year, was based on more than 11,800 responses to an annual survey conducted for a multinational company. From this study, they found that employees were treated more fairly when they felt their company was taking steps to accommodate faith in the workplace.
"At the end of the day, it's about creating an environment where employees feel they can bring their full selves to work and have a professional life that is aligned with their deepest inner convictions," he said.
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