WAVERLY, Iowa --- A company's diversity extends to its employees' spiritual lives, according to David Miller, director of the Princeton University Faith and Work Initiative.

Miller addressed the topic of spirituality in the workplace Tuesday at Wartburg College's 44th annual Corporation Education Day.

Corporation Education Day is designed to give students insights into a particular aspect of business. Tuesday's topic was focused on getting them to think about how they and business leaders can honor the religious rights of their employees in an increasingly diverse society.

Building a "faith-friendly" corporate culture is a meaningful investment in strengthening employee resources, Miller said.

"There was a time when these things weren't studied, but the taboos are falling now," he said. "Social scientists are saying, 'If people are bringing their faith to work, might they have a deeper sense of employee loyalty? Might they have a deeper sense of engagement? Might they find deeper meaning and purpose in their work? Might they be more ethical or creative?'"

If they are, their company prospers in more than just a monetary sense, Miller said.

"Ask any executive you know, if you have employees that are more engaged, more loyal, more ethical and more creative, they're going to say, 'Where do I buy that pill? I'll put it in the water supply,'" he said.

Noel White, senior group vice president of the Dakota Dunes, S.D.-based Tyson Fresh Meats, also spoke. He said Tyson, which employs 120 chaplains who walk the floors and meet with employees regularly, has embraced the faith-friendly concept.

"The chaplains, in my view, are a huge resource," said White, whose division oversees Waterloo's Tyson plant. "There are challenges in life and, in many cases, we have team members that want to talk to somebody about meeting those challenges. Our chaplains act as a resource for those people and many team members will seek out our chaplains to discuss those issues."

The Rev. Tony Opem, a retired priest in the Diocese of Sioux Falls, S.D., who, along Larry Adler, a Universal Christian minister, works two days a week at Tyson's Dakota Dunes plant, says it's important to let employees know their spiritual needs are valued.

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Speaker connects work, spirituality