Introduction:
Our
family and home environment shapes us as persons. We respond to people and
situations based on our upbringing. Attitudes in life get formed at an early
age -if our spirituality has to come alive at work, we need to be deeply rooted
in faith. The workplace environment – where we spend more than 50% of our
conscious day, influences us as persons. While our family is mostly a given –
the workplace is something we most often can choose – and the workplace
environment is a confluence of the relationships and values we exhibit as
persons. There are three main areas addressed below:
l Unemployment & Job Satisfaction
l Spirituality at the Workplace
l Relationship with one’s co-workers
For each area of
concern, we’ve explained the issue in some detail; reflected on desired
outcomes; and finally listed a few possible ways forward. These reflections are
not exhaustive but lend scope for creativity in implementation.
1) Unemployment and Job Satisfaction
The
Issue: 69% of the total survey respondents strongly agree that
unemployment is a major concern in their parish. Some of the core issues around
this topic include:
l Unemployment linked with underemployment
l A number of people are dissatisfied because
of jobs that are mismatched to their skill
l Many qualified people are working at call
centers as they do not find other alternatives
l Some are forced to accept jobs only to
ensure that they make ends meet
l Many youthare not aware of available options
or fail to pursue areas that they are genuinely interested in
l Some while searching for a job quickly get
disheartened and join anti-social groups and gangs
l Often young adults are unable to manage
their finances during difficult times and hence get into the vicious circle of
borrowing, living on credit etc.
Desired
Outcome: Individuals need jobs to sustain themselves
and their families – while also upgrading their skills to maximize their
potential. Developing skills will open up new avenues for people – possibly
allowing them to focus on things they are genuinely interested in.
Possible
Ways Forward:
l We need to counsel young adults to use their
talents at their job in order to find fulfillment and satisfaction.
l Can schools provide realistic career
guidance and aptitude tests based on current new age job options?
l Rope in entrepreneurs and senior business
leaders from industry, to give motivational talks/weekend training to young
adults. Parishes shouldwork with them to offer summer job
opportunities/projects to young adults to get them thinking of a career
direction?
l Parishes should maintain an employment cell
and tie up with search firms to provide a bank of talent. A possible common
database framework across parishes can be a big win for search firms and
parishioners.
l The Power to Lead program has played a key
role in exposing some of the best talent in our parishes to managerial inputs.
The alumni of the Power to Lead program could create industry relevant modules
that will impart to young adults and others critical skills with respect to
communication, managerial skills and etiquette. (Exposure to industry relevant
skills being a reason why some join call centers.)
l Can we inculcate a culture of dignity of
labor – no matter what job one does because in many cases a persons’ trade is
their prayer. Parish teams should work together on parish tasks – for instance
– cleaning the Church over the weekend (Sirach Ch38: 24 - 34)
2) Spirituality at the Workplace
The
Issue: Our common experience suggests that living out our Christian
spirituality at the workplace is often challenging. Office politics calls into
question our honesty; our busy work schedules, stretch our time so much that we
seemingly don’t have time for prayer; questionable promotion policies tear at
our integrity; and long hours at work – tend to make us believe we have a
different life – and sometimes cushions our conscience allowing us to be less
than faithful to our spouses and children.
Desired
Outcome: It is essential that people experience our
Christian values permeating all we do. Catholics should strive to be role
models of human values. It’ll be impossible for us to live our Christian values
if we are not rooted in prayer – so finding God in all things and making space
for him in our lives is the need of the hour. Chastity is not a vow for priests
– it’s a calling for all people who vow to one another or God to be faithful –
we need to foster a family life that builds our core values that we live out at
work.
Possible
Ways Forward:
l A short prayer/reflection on the day before
the family goes to bed.
l Sharing joys and pains with hope rather than
reacting based on our tiredness from work.
l Taking ten minutes before lunch and dinner
to do an Examen (the famous Examination of Conscience that the Jesuit founder
Ignatius shared with all).
l Take a stroll away from your desk and
colleagues…reflect on the ‘Christianness’ of your responses to situations.
l Close your eyes wherever you might be and
slow down your mind –empty it to allow God’s peace to flow in – so you act with
His peace.
l Stand up for what you believe in – integrity
and honesty work best when they are exhibited in tandem – each moment of the
day in everything you do.
l Be honest about success and failure – when
talking to peers, teams, or supervisors – it helps to celebrate achievements
and learn from failures.
l Do not be worried about the outcome – what’s
the worst that can happen – you’ll lose your job – you’ll find another one –
worthy of you – and of your value system.
l If you see someone lying or doing something
unethical – have the courage to confront the person with love; do the right
thing so that if others are impacted by lies and deceit you respond to that
situation so justice prevails.
l Begin adult catechism classes/ groups in
parishes where the CCC is discussed and studied –as discussion groups rather
than receptive groups - this will help make our faith relevant to our daily
lives, especially while dealing with situations at work.
3) Relationships with Co-Workers
The
Issue: An important aspect of living out our Christian spirituality is our
relationships with other workers as colleagues or employers. Any workplace has people
with different personalities working together. Day to day interactions with
co-workers, employers and employees if not well managed lead to stress and
frustration at work. Though subtle, gender bias still exists at the workplace.
In some organizations sexual harassment remains an ugly fact of life. An
overall lack of positive professional relationships leads to a loss of
productivity. Extramarital affairs result due to frequent and long interactions
with co-workers, which not only hurt children but also damage &destroy
marriages and families. Domestic workers are often treated very differently
from how we expect to be treated at our workplace.
Desired
Outcome: It is essential to have a positive ambience at
the workplace; a healthy, cooperative and helpful attitude between employees.
Each person should learn to appreciate diversity (of gender, culture and
thought) at the workplace. Good relationships at the workplace are important
for our physical, mental and emotional health and also for the results that we
produce for the organization.
Possible
Ways Forward:
l Treat everyone with respect regardless of
their position in the organization. At our own homes, treat our domestic
workers with equal respect.
l Organize domestic workers to ensure they
have rights similar to what we expect as workers at our workplace.
l Sensitize parishioners in their role as
employers for domestic workers.
l All forms of gossip at the workplace are to
be strictly avoided- Use the “three sieves” of Socrates ‘Is it true?’, ‘Is it
kind?’, and ‘Is it helpful?’
l Counter negativity with positivity – so you
are enabled to do your job better.
l Strive to establish clear boundaries for
work and working hours.
l Let co-workers know you support them and are
praying for them when difficulties arise in their lives.
l Be sensitive to diversity – the Church can
organize Sensitization workshops for parishes.
l Be open to genuine feedback
l If you see a coworker needs help, lend a
helping hand.
l Have in place coping mechanisms to deal with
office realities such as politics, sexual harassment, gender bias. Could the
Church help identify & empower people with coping mechanisms? Could this be
done through talks/discussions -through support groups or relevant literature?
l Parishes can start an active campaign on the
relevance of the Eucharist in our lives – it seems to be disengaged with office
realities. Part of the campaign could include monthly articles in the
examiner/parish bulletin on ‘Spirituality at the workplace’. Such articles with
a spiritual slant, applied to office realities can be important input, food for
thought, and encouragement on our journey of living the Christian way of life
at the workplace.
l A deeper understanding of the sacraments,
(including marriage) will go a long way in living out our Christian values and
being conscious of us being the body of Christ – the laity. This will help
couples understand that marriage is a sacrament and a life- long commitment to
each other. Parishes could actively support marriage encounter programs to
enable couples to constantly work on their marriage.
Conclusion:
Spirituality at the
workplace is an extension and expression of our values and culture. Our
workplace spirituality has an influence on the way we are as persons. Parishes
can make efforts to better understand people’s workplace challenges –
conceiving programs that empower people to live their Christian values even in
difficult situations. We as Christians should take a lead to positively
influence situations rather than being laid back victims – whether in the
workplace or in society.
Questions for
Discussion:
1. Mention at least 3 most important ideas in
the paper you agree with, giving reasons for the same
2. Any suggestions relating to the
implementation and the way forward regarding the above?
3. Please
mention any ideas in the paper you disagree with, giving reasons for the same
4.
Please mention any important aspects that you
think have not been covered in the paper.
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