Rethinking Human-Centered Organizations: The Role of Spirituality, Religion, and Professional Values in Contemporary Work Environments

Authors

Bogdan Costache
Bucharest University of Economic Studies image/svg+xml
Author
Vladimir Aurelian Enǎchescu
Bucharest University of Economic Studies image/svg+xml
Author
Costin Petcu
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy image/svg+xml
Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65222/VIRAL.2026.4.26.46

Keywords:

Workplace spirituality organizational culture employee wellbeing ethical leadership digital transformation workplace values employee engagement

Abstract

Contemporary organizational environments are increasingly shaped by technological acceleration, performance pressures, and digitally mediated work practices that often intensify fragmentation, stress, and the erosion of human connection. Within this context, workplace spirituality and religion emerge as significant dimensions in understanding employees’ search for meaning, ethical grounding, authenticity, and existential connectedness in professional life. This study rethinks workplace spirituality and religion as interconnected yet distinct constructs that contribute to the development of human-centered organizational cultures grounded in value congruence, trust, compassion, and meaningful work. Drawing upon contemporary debates in organizational behavior, leadership, wellbeing, and digital transformation, the paper explores employees’ perceptions regarding the relationship between spirituality, religious values, organizational culture, and professional fulfillment. Particular attention is given to how employees interpret meaningful work, alignment between personal and organizational values, and the role of spirituality in reducing stress, strengthening collaboration, and fostering loyalty and engagement within contemporary workplaces. The study argues that employees increasingly aspire not only to financial compensation, but also to environments that support psychological wellbeing, ethical coherence, and a deeper sense of purpose. Furthermore, the paper contributes to the scientific literature by proposing a renewed analytical perspective on workplace spirituality as an integral component of organizational culture within technologically accelerated societies. It also advances future research directions concerning the evolving relationship between fundamental human values, spirituality, religion, and human-centered organizational transformation in the digital era.

 

References

1. Ashmos, D. P., & Duchon, D. (2000). Spirituality at work: A conceptualization and measure. Journal of Management Inquiry, 9(2), 134–145. https://doi.org/10.1177/105649260092008

2. Benefiel, M., Fry, L. W., & Geigle, D. (2014). Spirituality and religion in the workplace: History, theory, and research. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 6(3), 175–187. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036597

3. Bobe, V. (2024). Posibilitatea de congruență între misiunea teologiei academice și filantropia ecleziastică. In Studia Theologica Doctoralia (Vol. XVI, pp. 399–408). Editura Doxologia.

4. Dehler, G. E., & Welsh, M. A. (2010). The experience of work: Spirituality and the new workplace. In R. A. Giacalone & C. L. Jurkiewicz (Eds.), Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance (pp. 75–88). Routledge.

5. Dik, B. J., Duffy, R. D., & Tix, A. P. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and a sense of calling in the workplace.

6. Duchon, D., & Plowman, D. A. (2005). Nurturing the spirit at work: Impact on work unit performance. The Leadership Quarterly, 16(5), 807–833. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2005.07.008

7. Fauzan, H., Mulazid, A. S., Suhendra, S., Saharuddin, D., Yaman, B., & Abouagila, A. M. A. (2026). Organizational support as a catalyst for professionalism and stress management in complex religious service systems: A systematic literature review of the Hajj context. Jurnal Pemberdayaan Masyarakat, 5(1), 34–48.

8. Fry, L. W. (2003). Toward a theory of spiritual leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 14(6), 693–727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2003.09.001

9. Giacalone, R. A., & Jurkiewicz, C. L. (2003). Toward a science of workplace spirituality. In R. A. Giacalone & C. L. Jurkiewicz (Eds.), Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance (pp. 3–28). M.E. Sharpe.

10. Hayati, K., Caniago, I., & Juliani, A. (2026). The two faces of spiritual leadership: unethical pro-organizational behavior amidst moral boycott pressure. International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 1–21.

11. Ikhwan, A., Rohmad, A., & Zukhrufin, F. K. (2025). Integrating Emotional and Spiritual Quotient (ESQ) with Prophetic Values in Human Resource Development. Afkar: Jurnal Akidah dan Pemikiran Islam, 27(1), 383–426.

12. Joshi, G., Nandram, S. S., Mohandas, N. P., & Cabral, C. (2026). Spiritual employability: Towards a holistic understanding of career development. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion.

13. Karakas, F. (2010). Spirituality and performance in organizations: A literature review. Journal of Business Ethics, 94(1), 89–106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-009-0251-5

14. Lips-Wiersma, M. (2002). The influence of spiritual “meaning-making” on career behavior. Journal of Management Development, 21(7), 497–520.

15. Lips-Wiersma, M., & Morris, L. (2009). Discriminating between “meaningful work” and the “management of meaning”. Journal of Business Ethics, 88(3), 491–511. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-009-0118-9

16. Milliman, J., Czaplewski, A. J., & Ferguson, J. (2003). Workplace spirituality and employee work attitudes: An exploratory empirical assessment. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 16(4), 426–447. https://doi.org/10.1108/09534810310484172

17. Mitroff, I. I., & Denton, E. A. (1999). A spiritual audit of corporate America. Jossey-Bass.

18. Petchsawang, P., & Duchon, D. (2009). Measuring workplace spirituality in an Asian context. Human Resource Development International, 12(4), 459–468. https://doi.org/10.1080/13678860903135912

19. Pratt, M. G., & Ashforth, B. E. (2003). Fostering meaningfulness in working and at work. In K. S. Cameron, J. E. Dutton, & R. E. Quinn (Eds.), Positive organizational scholarship.

20. Rego, A., & Cunha, M. P. (2008). Workplace spirituality and organizational commitment: An empirical study. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 21(1), 53–75. https://doi.org/10.1108/09534810810847039

21. Sheep, M. L. (2006). Nurturing the whole person: The ethics of workplace spirituality in a society of organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 66(4), 357–375.

22. Syahir, A. N. A., Abidin, M. S. Z., Sa’ari, C. Z., & Rahman, M. Z. A. (2025). Workplace spirituality and its impact on employee well-being: A systematic literature review of global evidence. Journal of Religion and Health, 64(5), 3313–3345.

23. Zohar, D., & Marshall, I. (2004). Spiritual capital: Wealth we can live by. Bloomsbury.

Downloads

Published

2026-04-28

How to Cite

Costache, B., Enǎchescu, V. A., & Petcu, C. (2026). Rethinking Human-Centered Organizations: The Role of Spirituality, Religion, and Professional Values in Contemporary Work Environments. International Journal of Education, Leadership, Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Business, Life Sciences, and Society, 7, 60-78. https://doi.org/10.65222/VIRAL.2026.4.26.46

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3 > >> 
Published by VIRAL A* A

Welcome to VIRAL A* Journal

This is a professional academic journal header template with modern design and functionality. The interface is fully responsive and optimized for all devices.

Submit your cutting-edge research in AI, machine learning, and intelligent systems.

Explore our collection of peer-reviewed articles and research papers.

Read the latest articles from our current journal issue.