Doing the Right Thing at Work: A Catholic's Guide to Faith, Business and Ethics

In "Doing the Right Thing at Work," James L. Nolan looks at ethics from a Catholic perspective. The subtitle is "A Catholic's Guide to Faith, Business and Ethics." The book is based on the Woodstock Business Conferences and includes case studies from that conference. There is not a lot of ethical guidance in the book. More than providing ethical guidance, the book shows Catholic business people how they can find the right answers on their own through faith and prayer. Depending upon your viewpoint, his approach could be seen as a positive or a negative. Although the book reads as a series of spiritual exercises, I did find two comments made by Nolan to be intriguing. The first is that the real tough ethical issues involve where there is no good solution, only a series of bad solutions, but one must be chosen. The second is his 5 pillars, or 5 point program, which includes: 1. Self awareness 2. Expanding your horizon 3. Engagement in work and the world 4. Community 5. Prayer The book makes for a quick read or can be used as a spiritual program. It does not so much tell you what the right thing is, or even how to identify the right thing, as much as it attempts to provide guideposts for finding the right answer on your own. So, if you are looking for a Catholic based theory of ethics, or an ethical rule book, then this book does not provide answers. If you are looking for a program to link spirituality, faith and work, then you may find a suitable program in this book.

Nolan is the founder of the Woodstock Business Conference, whose mission is to establish and lead a national network of business leaders in exploring their respective religious traditions. Through monthly meetings, these leaders seek to integrate faith, family and professional life; develop a corporate culture reflecting their religious faith and values; and exercise a beneficial influence on society at large. In his six years as executive director of the conference, Nolan helped hone the organizations' five-point program for "doing the right thing" in business. It is this program, illustrated by excerpts and examples from business conference dialogues, that forms the core his latest book. The points are self-awareness, expanding our horizons, engagement, community, and prayer. Each chapter ends with an exercise that includes self-examination and prayer. Nolan also provides footnotes and appendixes containing information on the Woodstock Business Conference, a daily "examen for busy business people" based on the spiritual exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, and the 10 points of the U.S. Catholic Bishops' "Catholic Framework for Economic Life." This work seems especially appropriate for small groups with concerns about business ethics and the proper balance between work and personal life.