Family Values of Employees in Secularized Workplaces: The Tension Between Religious Conservatism and Modern Organizational Culture

Authors : Nejla Aydınoğlu

Pages : 320-340

Doi:10.35415/sirnakifd.1732185

View : 103 | Download : 221

Publication Date : 2025-12-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aims to reveal how the processes of secularization and modernization are not limited to institutional structures, but also have multidimensional effects on employees\\\' religious identities, family values, and psychological integrity. The study discusses, on a conceptual level, the value conflicts experienced by employees who adhere to family values and religiously conservative principles within the individualistic, competitive, and performance-oriented structures of organizational cultures as they evolve. The study demonstrates that policies implemented based on a so-called “principle of neutrality” in secular organizations can lead to the suppression of religious identities, and that this situation causes identity conflicts, a feeling of not belonging, and disruptions in the work-family balance. The balance between family values, religious beliefs, and work life appears to affect many areas such as the individual\\\'s private life, psychological health, motivation, ethical decision-making, and organizational commitment. The key question of this study is: Do secular institutions act impartially towards employees\\\' family values and religious identities, or do they build structures that blur these value-based differences through institutional indifference? In the literature, the role of religion in business life is frequently examined through organisational policies or visible religious practices. However, studies examining the effects of secular norms on individuals\\\' intrinsic values and family values are limited. The study, addressing this gap, offers an extensive contribution on how religious conservatism and family values interact with secular organisational structures. Furthermore, this study thus provides theoretical and strategic contributions to the issue of managing cultural diversity fairly and holistically in the business world. The research took the form of a literature review; the sources were examined in terms of their specific theoretical perspectives.
Keywords : Din Sosyolojisi, Sekülerleşme, Dini Muhafazakarlık, Aile Değerleri, İş-Aile Dengesi

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