Volume 3, Issue 12 (December, 2014) Online ISSN-2277-1166 1 Available online on www.abhinavjournal.com Published by: Abhinav Publication Abhinav National Monthly Refereed Journal of Research in Commerce & Management SPIRITUALITY AT WORK PLACE: A MACROSCOPIC SHIFT FROM BUSINESS TO ETHICS Nilanjana Kumari Research Scholar, Faculty of Commerce, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India Email : nilanjanakumari.jobs@gmail.com ABSTRACT Conversations about workplace spirituality are becoming more frequent, which is raising the awareness about ethical responsibility. There are intensifying questions about the appropriate definition for the S-word at work place. Some call it religious change, some diversity and others call a mode of marketing for spiritual gurus. However, the growth of workplace spirituality is widely based on one’s personal responsibility towards the building of a mechanistic work environment to enhance spiritual and mental growth. Spirituality needs to be practiced for development of ethical leaders at workplace. Walter Earl Flucker an expert in the theory and practice of ethical responsibility quoted in his work Spirituality, Ethics and Responsibility “Spirituality demands that leaders cultivate and nourish a sense of self that recognizes the interrelatedness of life or a sense of community”. The study has been designed with the perspective to analyse the rising importance of spirituality at workplace. The paper has been divided into five parts: Introduction; Interdependence between Spirituality, Ethics and Business; Spirituality and Workplace: A Contemporary View; Emergence of Virtuous Leaders; and Conclusion. Keywords: Spirituality; Workplace; Ethics; Leadership; Management INTRODUCTION "Spirituality is the highest form of personal, political and social consciousness. It is important to use spirituality wisely and well in the 21st century - which will be a time of bridging ancient wisdom into the creative tapestry of contemporary times.” 12 A general believe is that spirituality is tied to religion, but there is a lot more to it than just following religion and believes and thus, aiming to be “a good person”. Others would say that it’s simply embodying their personal values of honesty, integrity, and good quality work. Again others would say it’s treating their co-workers and employees in a responsible, caring way. While, for some it means participating in spiritual study groups or using prayer, meditation, or intuitive guidance at work. 13 Spirituality has been making their business socially responsible in how it impacts the environment, serves the community or helps to create a better world. Quite a few business people these days are comfortable using the word “spirituality” in the work environment, as it’s more generic and all - encompassing than “religion.” Instead of emphasizing belief as religion, the word spirituality emphasizes on how the values can be applied and embodied. However, there are some who are not comfortable with the word spiritual and prefer to talk more about values and ethics when describing the same things that others would call spiritual. Key spiritual values embraced in a business context include integrity, honesty, accountability, quality, cooperation, service, intuition, trustworthiness, respect, justice, and service. 14