Being a Christian employer carries great responsibility. As followers of Christ, Christian employers are called to run their businesses according to biblical principles of justice, compassion and integrity. Here is an overview of what the Bible teaches about how Christian employers should treat their employees:
Pay a Fair Wage
One of the most basic biblical principles for employers is paying a fair wage. Leviticus 19:13 states “Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.” Similarly, Deuteronomy 24:14-15 instructs “Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.” Paying workers promptly and fairly is a matter of justice.
Provide Safe Working Conditions
Employers also have a duty to provide a safe working environment. The law given to Moses included regulations to ensure safety in construction projects (Deuteronomy 22:8). Negligence that leads to injury of workers violates biblical principles. Christians should be especially careful to protect the safety of employees, remembering that each person is made in the image of God.
Treat Employees With Dignity and Respect
Colossians 4:1 instructs “Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.” Christian employers have a Master in heaven who requires them to treat their workers with dignity, compassion and humanity. Employees should not be mistreated or exposed to verbal abuse. Christian business owners are called to manage in a way that honors Christ.
Care for the Whole Person
As Christians, employers are called to view employees not just as workers but as whole people created in God’s image. Employees have physical needs, emotional needs and spiritual needs. Meeting payroll obligations is important but it is only one aspect of caring for employees. Christians should strive to run their businesses as caring communities where people are treated as valued individuals.
Grant Time Off
Employees need breaks from work for rest, worship and family. God’s law in the Old Testament directed employers to give servants time off on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11) and on other holy days (Deuteronomy 16:16-17). While Christian employers may require work on Sundays, they should generously grant other days off as adequate times of rest and renewal.
Practice Open Communication
Healthy workplaces require open communication between employers and employees. Christian business owners should create cultures where employees feel comfortable discussing issues or making suggestions. Supervisors should be approachable and open to feedback. Letting employees share their views models the kind of openness and understanding that Christ demonstrated.
Lead With Humility
Christian leaders are called to steer their organizations with Christ-like humility. Jesus told his disciples that “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). Christian employers should regularly ask themselves if they are leading through service, empathy and concern for others. Humility keeps servant leadership at the core.
Aim for Unity and Harmony
The apostle Paul encourages, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Christian business owners should actively foster an atmosphere of unity and harmony within their company. Employees should be brought together through mutual understanding and shared vision, not divided through discord and strife. Employers can glorify God by promoting a spirit of collaboration.
Allow Time Off for Family Obligations
Christian business leaders respect the priority of family in employees’ lives. Workers need flexibility to care for sick children, assist aging parents and attend to other family responsibilities. Jesus affirmed the importance of honoring father and mother (Matthew 15:1-9). Employers who are sensitive to employees’ family commitments follow biblical principles.
Practice Understanding and Forgiveness
Even the best workplaces experience misunderstandings and conflicts. Christian employers should be careful to exercise understanding and extend forgiveness to employees. The Bible instructs believers to “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Christian business leaders model grace when they are generous in pardoning mistakes.
Promote Ethics and Integrity
Upholding high ethical standards should be a priority for Christian employers. The Bible warns against unjust business practices like dishonest scales and measures (Proverbs 11:1). Christian managers must regularly evaluate company policies and procedures to ensure they align with biblical values of justice and integrity. Workers should be trained to apply ethics in everyday business decisions.
Allow Flexibility for Church Involvement
One way Christian employers enable employees to live out their faith is through granting flexibility to attend church activities. Of course Sunday morning services are a priority. But Christians also serve through ministries like choir rehearsal, youth group events, deacon meetings and more. Honoring requests for church involvement demonstrates the employer’s own commitment to faith.
Provide Healthcare and Other Benefits
Offering employment benefits like healthcare, life insurance, retirement savings plans and more allows employees to provide for themselves and their families. The Bible teaches “if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). Generous benefits allow workers to fulfill their biblical duty to family.
Give to Charitable Causes
As Christians, employers have a duty to contribute to charitable causes that aid the needy and build God’s kingdom. The Bible instructs believers to “share with the Lord’s people who are in need” (Romans 12:13). Many companies enable employees to give through matching charitable gifts. Such corporate generosity contributes to the common good.
Allow Time Off for Volunteer Work
In addition to financial giving, Christian business leaders can enable employees to bless others through volunteering. Offering paid time off for volunteer work at charities, churches or nonprofit organizations allows employees to serve. It demonstrates that the company values the whole person and cares about employee passions.
Be Tolerant of Different Views
In a diverse workplace, Christian employers will interact with people holding different worldviews and beliefs. As believers, they are called to show charity and tolerance just as Christ did. The Bible instructs Christians to “accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you” (Romans 15:7). Respectfully allowing diversity honors God.
Nurture Gifts and Talents
Each employee has unique talents given by God. Christian employers can enable workers to flourish by nurturing those gifts. Employees should be encouraged to develop and exercise their abilities. Work duties can be assigned according to talents. Honoring each person’s abilities brings glory to the Creator.
Allow Time for Spiritual Growth
To thrive spiritually, believers need regular time reading the Bible, praying and participating in other spiritual disciplines. Christian employers can enable employees to grow spiritually by allowing flexibility for devotions during breaks or over lunch. Honoring spiritual needs demonstrates that the business cares about the whole person.
Reflect on Management Practices
Wise Christian employers regularly pause to prayerfully evaluate their leadership and management of personnel. Are they treating employees according to biblical principles? Do workers seem to thrive? Is the organizational culture healthy? Taking time for self-evaluation and reflection can help spot areas for improvement.
Pray for Employees
Prayer is one of the greatest gifts Christian employers can offer their workforce. Leaders should regularly pray for employees by name, asking God to meet their needs. Praying for protection, growth and well-being demonstrates deep care for workers. It models reliance on God in all aspects of business.
Seek Wise Counsel
Managing people is complex, so Christian business owners should actively seek wisdom. This may involve reading leadership books, attending business seminars or connecting with mentors. Seeking counsel from pastors, financial advisors and other experts can enhance biblical decision-making.
Exemplify Christian Values
Above all, Christian employers lead by example – modeling integrity, grace and biblical morality in their own conduct. A boss’s actions, more than words, set the tone for organizational culture. Leaders who visibly exemplify Christian values like prayer, honesty and service establish workplace standards that honor God.
In summary, Christian business leaders have a high calling to implement biblical principles in their treatment of employees. Prioritizing worker dignity, ethical practices, compassionate policies and fair wages allows employers to operate according to God’s standards. Christ-centered servant leadership blesses workers and brings glory to God.
