Authenticity matters: how religious and spiritual expression shape meaningful work, workplace belonging, and performance

Religious and spiritual identities are increasingly visible at work, yet research rarely separates genuinely enacted expression from expression staged for others. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, this study examines how lived religious expression, spiritual authenticity, and performative spirituality relate to meaningful work, workplace belonging, and supervisor-rated performance, moderated by organizational spirituality support. A two-wave, time-lagged, multi-source survey of 575 employees in 158 workgroups across five United Arab Emirates organizations was analyzed using multilevel path analysis. Lived religious expression and spiritual authenticity were positively related to meaningfulness and belonging, whereas performative spirituality was negatively related to both. Meaningfulness and belonging were related to performance and mediated the expression–performance links. Organizational spirituality support amplified both patterns, strengthening positive and negative relationships alike. The study distinguishes authentic from performative spirituality, positions spirituality support as an amplifying boundary condition, and recommends policies grounded in non-coercion, psychological safety, and respectful accommodation rather than visible display.