Chapter 2: The Ethics of Passion at Work: Definition and Critique

This chapter looks at the increasing role that passion plays in organizations, illustrated in particular through the Passion Economy, by Adam Davidson (2020a). This book argues that Western economies are shifting from a sacrifice-based model of work to a passion-based one. Generally, the importance of passion for work is further and further emphasized, as more and more workers and companies look to boost motivation and create more meaning in the workplace. This chapter describes the way passion is often seen as a response to contemporary work-related ills, but argues that despite some benefits, passion fails to present a robust measure of success at work and runs the risk of elitism. The author worries that the focus on passion could cause harm to workers, by detracting organizations from the goal of improving work conditions in a sustainable way, especially for workers who may never have a passion-driven career.