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Keywords

Spirituality, Compliance, Ethics, Compliance and Ethics Program, Spirituality in the Workplace, Business Ethics

Abstract

Major corporate scandals and heightened government enforcement of ethical lapses in the workplace continue to emphasize the importance of an effective compliance and ethics program. Compliance and ethics programs effectively became mandatory when the United States Federal Sentencing Commission amended the Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations in 2004 to recognize the existence of an effective compliance and ethics program as a mitigating consideration in the sentencing of organizations convicted of criminal conduct. While legalistic codes, policies, and procedures have become the normative response to the Sentencing Guidelines, soul-less documents in and of themselves will not develop the “thoughtful behavior” upon which an effective compliance and ethics program depends, nor will they “foster a culture of honesty and accountability.” This article examines spirituality in the workplace and the benefits of incorporating spirituality into the development of compliance and ethics programs. It addresses the growing movement to integrate spirituality in the workplace and the results of studies reflecting the positive impact of spirituality on workers’ productivity and ethical decision making. Contrary to popular thought, I argue that the spiritual teachings of many religious traditions merit consideration in developing organizational compliance and ethics programs and turn to Christian spirituality as an example.

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