The Golden Rule & Workplace Environments

At Pillar College, we strive to be a Christ centered workplace. This principle is embodied in our Mission statement and everything we do teach is as it were, “rooted in and committed to Christian faith and love”.
Our guide and foundation, the Word of God and the Holy Scriptures are not silent on workplace behavior and workplace climate. Some scriptures that come to mind are:
Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
(Col. 4:1).
Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (Eph. 6.9).
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. (Luke 6:31).
A Christ centered workplace is characterized by the ‘golden rule’ we learned in Sunday School (Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31). This is the rule that guides the way we treat one another, returning kindness for kindness, respect for respect, civility for civility and always striving toward a community of care. There are several worldviews that espouse to the ‘silver rule’. These include Judaism, Humanism and perhaps others. The ‘silver rule’ simply states ‘do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you”.
In my research on workplace behavior and workplace climates, unfortunately, there are workplaces that are not Christ centered and therefore far from kind, civil or collegial. These workplaces are often characterized by workplace bullying.
Research on this workplace phenomenon defines workplace bullying as “repeated and persistent negative acts toward one or more individual(s), which involve a perceived power imbalance [which] creates a hostile work environment” (Lavan and Martin, 2008, p. 148).
In addition to workplace bullying, scholars have used other terms to refer to the same phenomenon such as “workplace harassment, incivility, workplace victimization, abusive supervision and disruptive practitioner behavior” (Keashly, 2010; p. 11). Other terms used are “mobbing, employee abuse, workplace aggression, victimization, and interpersonal deviance” (Lavan and Martin, 2008; p. 148) as well as “interpersonal workplace harassment” (Meglich-Sespico, 2006).
Workplace bullying is unethical behavior; to the extent that ethical behavior is the expected basis for care and responsibility for others in the workplace (Rhodes, et al. 2010). The negative effects of workplace bullying on the individual and on the organizations are now well documented (Vickers, 2001, Vega and Comer, 2005, Tracy et al. 2009). These include a reduced organizational commitment, reduced employee productivity, reduced organizational performance and a general sense of insecurity.
By contrast, a Christ centered work environment is just that – Christ centered. It draws all effort to His service and glory alone, without malice or ego. Identified by and with faith and love, it is by nature and definition, mutually supportive where the needs of others come before those of ones own. It is focused on service to Christ and to others, where everyone brings his or her best every time. In a Christ centered work environment, the golden rule requires no effort. It is simply the way of doing things.
Dr. Rosette Adera,
Chair, Business Administration & Management
 
If you’d like to learn more about professions that enable you to serve wholeheartedly and faithfully in your life’s work or want to learn more about a biblically based, Christ-centered education at Pillar, we’d love to introduce you to Christian perspectives at work in your future career. For more information on how Pillar College can help you pursue your ministry and educational goals, please phone us at 973-803-5000 or email [email protected].