Amy Joyce, in Sunday’s WaPo raises the question of the proper role of political discussion in the workplace. During this election season discussions can become disruptive, generate animosities and even get people fired. The same can be said for religious discussions – except that firing a disruptive employee might generate a lawsuit based on religious discrimination.
Publisher Gregory F.A. Pierce and Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs provide some models for the proper use of workplace spirituality.
Pierce starts from a position that work is (or should be) a sharing in God’s creation and a service to the community. (If we find ourselves working for an employer who is harming the community, spirituality may require that we leave, work for change or even go to the courts). From that position, he suggests that spiritual practices ought to reinforce, or at a minimum, not interfere with, the duties required by an employer. Extended political or religious discussions around the coffee pot steal time and production from the employer.
Even here, some balance is required. Employees need to know one another if they are going to work together. Political and religious discussions can contribute to the goal.
Similarly, use of an employer’s resources (e-mail, copiers, telephones) in support of any cause should be unacceptable.
Pierce does not hide his spirituality. He simply argues that there is an appropriate time and place for spiritual (or political discussions). In the course of the normal workday a sound spirituality should bear fruit in terms of improving service and creativity.
An employer has an additional problem in expressing spiritual values: employees may curry favor by experiencing a conversion that is insincere.
On April 11 David Cho wrote on the front-page of the WaPo about Joe Gibbs and his workplace spirituality:
“there are two constants to Gibbs's careers in football and auto racing, they are these: He wins championships for teams; he wins souls for Christianity. In hiring Gibbs, the Washington Redskins believe they reacquired a renowned head coach who will restore a winning tradition. Lesser known is that the team also got one of the most evangelical figures in all of sports.” (I’m sorry I didn’t write this sooner – I cant provide a link because the post requires payment for access to its archives.)
On returning to the Redskins, Gibbs’ first personnel decision was to hire an additional chaplain. (In the Army this is known as taking care of your troops). He has created an atmosphere in which worship is encouraged – but a player would not earn additional game time by going to chapel.
Gibbs inspires his players by his knowledge of football, dedication to his work and the integrity of his character:
"It was known he was a devout Christian, but it wasn't anything like he came into a meeting and started preaching," said former quarterback Mark Rypien, who is Roman Catholic. "And we also appreciated more that it wasn't like that. . . . We just had a great amount of respect for his character."
I doubt that Gibbs, a strong evangelical, has ever read Pierce, a practicing Catholic. Yet it seems to me that Gibbs models Pierce’s guidelines.
They also provide a model for fulfilling the Objects of Kiwanis
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