“For Such a Time as This”: Transforming the World as a Catholic Woman in Human Resources
“Work is a good thing for man—a good thing for his humanity-because through work man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes ‘more a human being’” (Pope St. John Paul II).
“The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative” (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops).
“... for such a time as this … ” (Esther 4:14).
Human resources, as a discipline, has its roots in the late Industrial Revolution and the shift to more divided, specialized labor. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), only 5% of U.S. companies had personnel departments in 1915, and by 1920, that number grew to almost 20%. Today, whether it is called “People Operations,” “Employee Success,” or simply HR, human resources management is a critical function of every business. And while the field has advanced since the days of the first personnel departments, I believe there is still work to be done to place the human person at the center of human resources and be in alignment with the vision of Pope St. John Paul II and the USCCB.
In the past decade, HR professionals have increasingly focused on a commendable goal: promoting work environments “in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully, have equal access to opportunities and resources, feel a sense of belonging, and use their unique backgrounds and characteristics to contribute fully to the organization’s success” Yet, some negative consequences of this focus have been the formation and implementation of programs that promoting division, gender ideology, and Marxist racism. These programs are often what make practicing Catholics question their career path in HR. They wonder how a Catholic can be true to oneself and, more importantly, true to the faith.
Out of Alignment
Admittedly, as an HR professional of over 20 years, I’ve often asked this question, too. I have felt the profession has been “hijacked” by ideology that is not in alignment with my faith. I have been in organizations that do not treat people with respect as human beings and that put ideology before sound business practices. I’ve seen these experiences in a variety of ways during my career:
Cultures that destroy the soul by, for example, pursuing success at all costs.
Implementing recruiting and hiring practices based on race and sex, not skills and abilities.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and “ally” training that push not just tolerance but acceptance of ideologies not in alignment with Catholic teaching.
Policies that inhibit the ability to bring one’s “whole self” to work by, for example, wearing crucifixes or having a religious quote in one’s office.
Job termination practices that do not respect the dignity of every human being.
Pressure to provide health coverage of contraception and abortion.
HR departments that are more concerned with programs than they are with supporting the strategy of the organization through best people practices.
A Better Way
There were times when I thought about exiting the HR profession. However, through prayer, discernment, and theological research, I have discovered there is a better way to practice HR. This “way” has been with us since Biblical times and has been explored profoundly through the great modern leaders of the Church, such as Pope Leo XIII and St. John Paul II.
And so, I say “yes” to the young woman exploring a career in HR. I say “stay the course” to the more experienced woman feeling like a fish out of water in corporate HR. Yes, you can practice HR and stay true to your faith as a Catholic woman.
For such a time as this …
The social teachings of the Catholic Church have championed the dignity of the worker for over 100 years. In his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII tells us that it is the duty of employers to “respect in every man his dignity as a person.” As an HR professional who deeply supports and agrees with this concept, I espouse living it out in my work.
I am humbled to have found a home to support me in developing the HR profession for young students, business owners, and HR professionals, with a strong focus on this dignity of the worker. According to its website, the Busch School of Business, where I am a visiting assistant professor, seeks to transform the world of business, believing that:
The human person is at the center of the economy.
Business is a noble vocation.
Business can be a force for good.
Business advances human flourishing through the alleviation of poverty and the inherent dignity found in work.
The focus on business as a force for good, always benefiting the human person, is one that people of all faiths can understand and embrace. This focus is what I see as the ultimate purpose and practice of human resources. To further explain, it is essential to point out that this perspective allows for human resource practices that:
Focus on the Church’s social teaching.
Champion human dignity.
Advance human work.
Allow people of all faiths, and no faith, to participate in and benefit from practices that support the dignity of every human being.
Dare I say that we, Catholic women in HR, are put into the business world now for “such a time as this”? Let’s transform the HR profession!
The work I am doing allows me to meld my spiritual life, HR professional life, and academic intellectual life to propose a way to transform the HR world. Through collaboration with my esteemed colleagues, I continue to work on our framework, titled “Dignity of the Worker.” We look at HR best practices through the concepts of:
Creating a Culture of Dignity
Connecting The Dignity of the Worker to the Common Good of the Organization
Creating and Distributing Sustainable Wealth Justly by practicing subsidiarity, solidarity and distributive justice
Building upon these concepts, we look to explore how the Catholic teachings of unity, participation, and justice can create organizations that welcome and unite people instead of dividing and pitting groups against one another.
I am excited about the work I do. I am excited to be able to study, teach, and practice HR from a fresh, yet ancient, perspective that is based on the teachings of our Church and our dear Lord. For such a time as this, you can, indeed, transform the world as a Catholic woman in the HR profession.
Tracy Phillips is a Visiting Assistant Professor at The Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, where her focus is on the Human Resource Specialization under the area of Strategy, Management and Operations. In addition, she serves as part-time Leadership Consultant with The Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI). As a consultant and owner of TMP Solutions, LLC, she has experience in many industries—small, medium, and large—yet her sweet spot is small, entrepreneurial companies. Tracy holds a master’s degree in Training and Organization Development from Saint Joseph’s University. Aside from her responsibilities at Busch and CLI, she serves as a director on her local school board.
Tracy resides in Glenmoore, Penn., with her husband, Steve, and four children, where they worship at Saint Peter Parish in West Brandywine. Tracy is very active in her parish serving as lector, respect life team member, youth ministry team member, and Lectio Divina study member.