Exploring a New Dimension of Suffering in the Workplace: The Role of Spirituality in Existential and Moral Suffering

Abstract

Building on a ternary conception of the human being at work—body, soul, and spirit—this research aims to address the following question: how do certain forms of workplace suffering specifically manifest themselves in the spiritual dimension of individuals? The study adopts an exploratory qualitative design based on life-story interviews. Empirical data were collected from twenty-two secondary public-school teachers in France, who were invited to reflect on their lived work experiences. The findings reveal the existence of forms of psychological suffering that go beyond the physical and psychological frameworks traditionally mobilized in occupational health research. Two specific forms of spiritual suffering are identified: existential suffering, related to identity crises, loss of recognition, and the inability to project oneself into the future; and moral suffering, resulting from value conflicts that challenge professional conscience. The originality of this research lies in the introduction of a ternary anthropological framework into human resource management, leading to a tripartite reconceptualization of workplace suffering. From a managerial perspective, the findings invite organizations to move beyond a binary approach to occupational health in order to better integrate the spiritual dimension of individuals.