Praying for productivity in America

Image by by Pål Berge

Does your job seem pointless?

Are problems at home draining your zest for work?

Is your boss a blithering idiot?

Then why not consult the company chaplain.

Corporate chaplains are a booming business in America, working everywhere from giant multinationals to tiny family firms. And their numbers are growing. America has several “rent-a-chaplain” companies and two seminaries that offer degrees in corporate chaplaincy, yet demand still exceeds supply.

Why the boom?

Bosses point to the practical advantages of having a company cleric, with some even claiming they boost productivity.

Recruitment agency Marketplace Chaplains claims that the employee turnover rate at Taco Bell outlets in Texas dropped by a third after they started employing chaplains, and it’s notable that many firms have taken to advertising their clerics in promotional literature. Another reason is the growing intrusion of faith into the workplace. Bible-study classes are proliferating across corporate America, and once-closeted bosses are coming out as evangelicals.

Lawsuits from outraged secular employees are probably only a matter of time.