Timeless Teachings to Address Hot Topics in HR

An Overview of the Dignity of the Worker Framework and its application to additional current HR hot topics, including AI and Return to Office Policies.

The Dignity of the Worker Framework offers an alternative approach to typical DEI programs, emphasizing the inherent dignity of every employee, regardless of skin color, religion, gender, race, etc. Rooted in age-old Catholic social teachings to address hot topics in HR, its teachings are universally applicable, regardless of religion or affiliation.

Together, we’ll explore the social teachings that make this framework so functional:

• Creating a Culture of Dignity: Every employee is unique physically, emotionally, intellectually, and culturally. Every employee has value, in part, because of this distinctiveness. Excluding or mistreating any individual solely on the basis of their innate characteristics is a grave violation of dignity.
• Connecting the Dignity of the Worker to the Common Good of the Organization: Organizations are communities where individuals collaborate to meet needs and contribute to the common good of society.
• Creating and Distributing Wealth Justly: A core objective of any business is the sustainable creation of wealth and its just distribution. The Dignity of the Worker framework explains this through three concepts:
  • Promoting Solidarity
  • Exercising Subsidiarity
  • Practicing Distributive Justice

Using this dignity-centered HR Framework, we’ll go beyond theory to explore three concepts that can be used address hot topics in HR:

• Unity
• Justice
• Participation

With a strong foundation of the framework in place, we’ll focus on the how-to of implementing the framework through some key hot topics in HR today:

• What are some HR Best Practices that an HR professional can implement as part of The Dignity of the Worker Framework?
  • Examples will be presented around recruiting, performance management, empowerment, and compensation, to name a few.
• How can one utilize the framework to address the issue of work-from-home policies?
  • Lately, many companies have implemented return-to-office mandates. There is much debate around the necessity of the mandates and what approach is best. We will explore the debate within the lens of the framework.
• How can one utilize the framework to address AI in the workplace?
  • AI, and technology in general, are changing the workplace for better or for worse. We will explore how and when to utilize AI within a dignity-centered mindset.