Spirituality in the Workplace: The New Frontier of HRD

Authors

  • Tara Fenwick University of Alberta
  • Elizabeth Lange University of Alberta

Abstract

In this critical essay we argue that recent human resource development (HRD) initiatives in building learning communities and appropriating employees' holistic development are exploiting spiritual needs and offering promises traditionally fulfilled through spiritual search and worship. We trace HRD's expanding curriculum into areas of spirituality and critically analyse examples of spirituality-based HRD programs, showing how such programs embed contradictions, are pervaded by a fundamentalist zeal, invade individuals' privacy, demand surrender while resisting critical discernment, appropriate selected promises of spirituality, and meld whole persons to the global marketplace. Finally, we explore how spirituality might be integrated with work and learning through alternative approaches that are more ethical, ecumenical, ecological, and inclusive.

Résumé

Certaines initiatives récentes en développement des ressources humaines (DRH), notamment l'établissement de «communautés d'apprentissage» et l'appropriation du développement holistique des individus, exploitent en réalité les aspirations spirituelles des employés en leur offrant des assurances qui relèvent traditionnellement du domaine de l'introspection et du recueillement. Ainsi, on retracera les incursions du DRH dans le domaine spirituel en faisant l'analyse critique de certains programmes. On montrera comment ces programmes se nourrissent de contradictions, se complaisent dans la ferveur intégriste, méprisent l'intimité, exigent le renoncement à la pensée critique, exploitent l'expectative spirituelle, et s'efforcent d'assujettir l'identité personnelle à la globalité du marché. Enfin, on explorera des moyens d'intégration spirituelle fondés sur les valeurs de l'éthique, de l'aecuménisme, de l'écologie et de l'inclusion.

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Published

1998-05-01

How to Cite

Fenwick, T., & Lange, E. (1998). Spirituality in the Workplace: The New Frontier of HRD. Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education, 12(1), 63–87. Retrieved from https://cjsae.library.dal.ca/cjsae/article/view/2017

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (1998)

Section

Articles

License

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