Perceived advantages and disadvantages of faith at work.

Abstract

This study examines how full-time Christian employees perceive their faith as an advantage or disadvantage in the workplace. I frame these perceptions in two ways: religious cultural capital which reflects employees' religious dispositions and socialization; religion as cultural toolkit which amplifies their experience of workplace as culturally unsettled. Interview findings from 63 full-time suggest that religious disposition and socialization enhance psychological coping, improved work relationships, and work performance. Also, the most commonly perceived challenges to their faith including the mixed expectations within religious tolerance policies, anti-Christian hostility, higher ethical and civic expectation of Christians, and heteronormative religious dissonance reflected their perceptions of workplace as culturally unsettled. Bonding with other fellow Christian colleagues or evangelizing others suggest serve as responses or tools which help them to make sense of contemporary workplace culture.