[Larry Lee]

Wal-Mart's LIEbrul critics are always razing the Waltons for not paying their employees a so-called living wage. Likewise for the poor beleaguered Tysons, whose industrial-strength chicken production has brought new meaning to "independent contracting" on the Del-Mar peninsula, where Tyson's chicken farmers enjoy the blessed freedom of owning their own business (and exercising their personal choice to invest honest, long hours without the illusory crutch of overtime compensation) -- and to CHOOSE to do it all under the uncompromising umbrella of Tyson's requirements and standards.

I cannot think of two companies that are more qualified to teach us about the influence of spiritual values in the workplace!

We're talking here about the little things that mean a lot -- the things that reflect the simple goodness that's found in an uncomplaining employee's heart. Like:

* A can-do attitude.

* The lickety-split pursuit of getting a job done on time and within budget.

* A cheerful demeanor, despite some silly personal health annoyance (why complain, when you can work your troubles away? that's what God tells us).

* The abundant joy that comes from living as a self-reliant individual (for indeed, it's the individual to whom God grants His eternal salvation, NOT SOME UNION).

I'm sure you can think of additional spiritual virtues for the workplace -- and I hope you will share them here. Meanwhile, please read below how these two great families of American capitalism have joined together to create a better world.

FOR RELEASE: Monday, May 21, 2007

Tyson Family Foundation Endows 'Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace Chair' in Walton College

The John H. Tyson Endowed Chair in Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace will explore the impact of faith, religion and spirituality in business.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - A new area of business studies will assist students at the University of Arkansas in learning how to accommodate various religious belief systems in an increasingly diverse and global workforce.

With a $2 million gift from the Tyson Family Foundation the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas has established the John H. Tyson Endowed Chair in Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace. This is a part of the more than $27 million pledged to the U. of A. by that foundation and the Tyson Foods, Inc. Foundation in 2005 as a part of Campaign for the Twenty-First Century.

"We know from the success of the Tyson Foods chaplains' program that there is a great need for this kind of support and knowledge in the workplace," said Tyson. "To ignore the role that faith plays in our daily lives, including at work, is to miss out an essential part of human identity and motivation. We are a faith-friendly company, striving to honor God and be respectful of each other, our customers and other share holders stake holders. We are pleased to be able to help create this position that will lead the study of faith and spirituality in the workplace."

A national search will begin immediately to fill the Tyson Chair.

The chair holder will explore the impact of faith, religion and spirituality in the workplace, decision-making and leadership through a moral prism; assist students to learn how to better accommodate various religious belief systems in an increasingly diverse workforce in a global economy; and examine the intersection of faith and behavior in the workplace.

"More and more business scholars are becoming active in the management and faith domain," said Anne O'Leary-Kelly, professor, chair of the department of management and the William R. and Cacilia Howard Chair in Management. "For example, the management, spirituality and religion special interest group in the Academy of Management now includes 680 members. There is a rise in empirical research studies, academic journals and scholarly articles focused on defining, measuring, describing, conceptualizing and analyzing the impact and expression of faith at work."

The chair holder will teach courses that address a broad array of work-related topics from the perspective of spirituality and faith, such as spiritual connection and how it affects employees, empowerment, trust, justice, the sense of community, the connection between faith and leadership, understanding work as a spiritual calling and motivation. Courses will also cover topics like creativity, corporate culture, diversity, wellness, job stress, conflict, and ethics, as well as the history of theology related to work, and how faith can be a constructive resource to address all aspects of business life and leadership.

http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/10758.htm

[Brother Temperance]

Originally Posted by Larry Lee

Wal-Mart's LIEbrul critics are always razing the Waltons for not paying their employees a so-called living wage. Likewise for the poor beleaguered Tysons, whose industrial-strength chicken production has brought new meaning to "independent contracting" on the Del-Mar peninsula, where Tyson's chicken farmers enjoy the blessed freedom of owning their own business (and exercising their personal choice to invest honest, long hours without the illusory crutch of overtime compensation) -- and to CHOOSE to do it all under the uncompromising umbrella of Tyson's requirements and standards.

I cannot think of two companies that are more qualified to teach us about the influence of spiritual values in the workplace!

We're talking here about the little things that mean a lot -- the things that reflect the simple goodness that's found in an uncomplaining employee's heart. Like:

* A can-do attitude.

* The lickety-split pursuit of getting a job done on time and within budget.

* A cheerful demeanor, despite some silly personal health annoyance (why complain, when you can work your troubles away? that's what God tells us).

* The abundant joy that comes from living as a self-reliant individual (for indeed, it's the individual to whom God grants His eternal salvation, NOT SOME UNION).

I'm sure you can think of additional spiritual virtues for the workplace -- and I hope you will share them here. Meanwhile, please read below how these two great families of American capitalism have joined together to create a better world.

Praise! It reminds me of that old hymn.

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
He made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.

The CEO in his office,
the Chinee slave in his sweatshop,
He made them high or lowly,
And works them till they drop.

[Larry Lee]

Originally Posted by Brother Temperance

Praise! It reminds me of that old hymn.

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
He made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.

The CEO in his office,
the Chinee slave in his sweatshop,
He made them high or lowly,
And works them till they drop.

I think that's going to be engraved on the Chair's stationary.

[Elmer Christianson]

These Godly, All-American companies might as well belong to the LORD! The poor folks who are lucky enough to work at Wal-Mart owe all of us (including Jesus) a good attitude, after all, they could be working in one of the factories that make cheap plastic stuff, but they get to be in that nice air conditioned store. It's sort of like Heaven for poor folks.