Pursuing justice: workplace relations in the eyes of Jewish tradition

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how traditional Jewish sources view workplace relations, with particular attention to how those sources may aid individuals to best meet the challenges of the contemporary organizational world.

Design/methodology/approach

This work examines the desired nature of employer‐employee relations via an examination of pertinent Jewish sources from a variety of time‐periods and locations.

Findings

Traditional Jewish sources address a wide array of topics associated with the respective obligations and rights of employers and employees at the workplace. These sources allow for an additional way to meet the challenges of a workplace plagued by the lack of trust and common purpose often associated with the contemporary business organization.

Practical implications

The paper provides a conceptual framework through which to understand workplace relations. It presents and explicates various aspects of employer and employee responsibilities, while suggesting possible means by which business leaders can best organize and maintain workplace relations.

Originality/value

There currently exists both an increasing interest in spirituality at the workplace and the acknowledgement that traditional sources may provide important insights into the challenges of contemporary organizations and those who lead them. The paper is the first piece of research addressing how traditional Jewish wisdom can be leveraged to advance on of the most vexing problems in contemporary organizations: the advancement of mutual trust between employer and employee.

Citation

Kay, A. (2012), "Pursuing justice: workplace relations in the eyes of Jewish tradition", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 31 No. 9, pp. 901-911. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621711211259857