Internal public relations’ role with workplace, spirituality, and religion

•Numerous studies show there has been great and lasting rise in support of spirituality and religion in the workplace.•Public relations departments—particularly internal public relations focused on employees—must be at the lead but is not.•A research-based (theory and practice) approach to internal PR’s role with integrating religion/spirituality in a workplace is needed.•This manuscript is meant to spur needed theoretical and pragmatic approaches for internal public relations to integate religion/sprituality in the workplace.•These approaches would lead to greater employee engagement and stronger organizational performance. This article argues that public relations ought to lead the integration of spirituality and religion in an organization’s workplace. Because no model of this opportunity exists for internal public relations (a.k.a. employee relations or internal communication), this article looks at scholarship about spirituality and religion in the workplace to show links among organizational performance, employee engagement, and public relations operations, particularly that focused on employees. From this research-based approach, guiding principles for public relations’ lead role in integrating spirituality and religion in an organization’s workplace and an operational framework for internal public relations are given so public relations professionals can make the integration reality and effective for all.