Workplace Religious Expression, Religiosity and Job Satisfaction: Clarifying a Relationship

Previous research theorized and tested a relationship between religiosity and job satisfaction with mixed results. In light of increased attention on religiosity and work, the assertions and results of the previous research are examined. Drawing on the growing understanding of religiosity and a deeper use of job satisfaction theory, potential explanations for the previously mixed findings are offered and alternative hypotheses are formulated and tested. Religiosity was found to influence what employees want from a job environment and their job satisfaction, but only when organizational context was controlled. By introducing and exploring the concepts of workplace acceptance of religious expression by organizations (OWARE) and individuals (IWARE), it was found that the interaction between an organization's stance and an employee's desire pertaining to the acceptance of workplace religious expression had the most significant influence on job satisfaction.