Workplace Spirituality and Organizational Change: A Durkheimian Study of Workplace Cohesion – A Literature Review

Contemporary organizations face unprecedented rates of change, often disrupting employee well-being and social bonds. Concurrently, scholarly and practical interest in Workplace Spirituality (WPS) as a source of meaning, community, and resilience has grown. However, the sociological underpinnings of how WPS fosters cohesion, particularly during disruptive change, remain underexplored. This literature review addresses this gap by synthesizing empirical and conceptual research on WPS and organizational change through the classical sociological lens of Émile Durkheim. Analyzing WPS as a potential contemporary manifestation of Durkheimian concepts – specifically collective consciousness, solidarity (mechanical and organic), and the mitigation of anomie – we argue that spiritually-infused practices and values can function as crucial mechanisms for sustaining moral regulation and social integration amidst flux. The review critically examines existing evidence, identifies theoretical and methodological limitations in the field (notably the scarcity of sociological perspectives and cross-cultural studies), and highlights Durkheim’s enduring relevance for understanding the dynamics of cohesion in modern workplaces. Practical implications for leadership and change management are discussed, alongside recommendations for future research integrating classical sociology with contemporary organizational studies.