Workplace Spirituality: Understanding Its Foundations, Current Research Trends, Challenges, and Future Prospects

Abstract

Workplace spirituality has become essential in organisational research, emphasising the integration of meaning, purpose, and interconnectedness within professional environments. It reflects a shift from purely economic goals to a more holistic approach that nurtures employee well-being, ethical leadership, and organisational commitment. This paper explores the theoretical foundations of workplace spirituality, drawing from key models such as Fry’s Spiritual Leadership Theory, Ashmos & Duchon’s Workplace Spirituality Framework, and Giacalone & Jurkiewicz’s Model. These frameworks highlight core dimensions, including meaningful work, a sense of community, and alignment with organisational values, which enhance employee satisfaction, engagement, and ethical decision-making. The current research on workplace spirituality spans multiple areas, including its impact on job performance, leadership effectiveness, employee well-being, and ethical business practices. Recent studies highlight its role in fostering resilient work cultures, emotional intelligence, and organisational citizenship behaviours, making it increasingly relevant in today’s corporate landscape. Despite its significance, workplace spirituality faces several challenges, such as difficulty differentiating it from religious beliefs, the absence of standardised measurement tools, and resistance from traditional corporate structures. However, as organisations move towards value-driven and human-centric models, workplace spirituality continues to gain attraction. This paper concludes by discussing future research directions, emphasising the need for deeper exploration of its impact across industries, cross-cultural perspectives, and integration with emerging workplace trends such as remote work and mindful leadership. By addressing these areas, workplace spirituality can contribute to more ethically responsible, resilient, and purpose-driven organisations.