Work Place Spirituality: The Battle Between Faith and Science among academics.
This paper examines the intricate and prickly relationship between faith and science among academics in the context of workplace spirituality. There is no doubt, the low morale and demotivation of academics in the workplace poses a concern on the level of job validity, work culture, and objectivity of job performance among academics. The objective of the paper was to investigate how faith-based values emanates into the work place, the shift from science to workplace spirituality and the motivating role of spirituality and faith among academics in Federal University Otuoke. The paper explored the integrative model of workplace spirituality (IMWS), Marx Weber (1958) protestant ethics, and Bandura (1986) Social Cognitive theory although the study hinged on the social cognitive theory. The paper adopted a survey mixed method. A structured questionnaire titled workplace spirituality; Faith Vs Science among academics (WSFVS) was designed and administered on two hundred and thirty-eight (238) randomly selected academic staff of Federal University Otuoke. In addition, about twelve (12) management staff were purposively sampled for triangulation. An in-depth interview session was conducted on all of the selected management academic staff across Faculties, Departments and Units. Findings revealed that a good number of academic staff of the university practiced and believed in the efficacy of faith, prayers and religious values into the workplace this they claim to enhance their effective delivery on research and teaching. However, overwhelming majority of the respondents including academic Staff stressed that faith and spirituality alluded to the indispensability of science-based approach in the workplace. The study recommends that workplace spirituality should be harnessed and factored when designing both management goals, vision and mission including individual employee’s objectives as faith and religious beliefs of workers remain an integral part of the worker which is often brought into workplace especially in our religious African clime. Africa.
Keywords: Workplace, Spirituality, Faith,Religion, Employee Performance.
