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Is it a career advantage to be a Protestant?

Arran Cameron
I was discussing things online with an American engineer who mentioned that engineers in the US tend not to be particularly religious but it's an advantage to be a Protestant if you want to rise to a senior position or go into management. A general trend exists that in lower to middle ranking positions in industry religion is immaterial but above middle positions there is a correlation between seniority and Protestant commitment. That doesn't mean that chief engineers or corporate bosses are holier than thou or even attend church regularly, or more regularly than junior engineers, but they possess a strong knowledge of the Bible and the tenets of Protestantism. They are also admirers of John Calvin and his ideals.


Does a similar phenomenon exist in Britain?
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    Working on the basis that there is always some truth in stereotypes there is the expression 'Protestant work ethic'. I have always understood that to mean honesty, integrity and conscientiousness, characteristics that would seem to be desirable from the point of view of customers, suppliers and fellow workers. Not so good for 'get rich quick merchants'.


    Those individuals that I have known with a strong Protestant faith often reflected long and hard over actions that they had taken or where about to take, very much taking individual responsibility and realising that they (ultimately?) would be held to account. Perhaps those of other faiths or none are happy to take their guidance and absolution from their fellow man?


    The answer to the original question is probably down to the fact that organisations recruit in their own image, 'if your face fits' etc.Protestants succeed where Protestants have succeeded.


    In the UK context the chocolate makers Cadbury, Fry and Rowntree were all Quakers. Sadly they are now just brand names, should they have stuck to their religious principles?
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    Working on the basis that there is always some truth in stereotypes there is the expression 'Protestant work ethic'. I have always understood that to mean honesty, integrity and conscientiousness, characteristics that would seem to be desirable from the point of view of customers, suppliers and fellow workers. Not so good for 'get rich quick merchants'.


    Those individuals that I have known with a strong Protestant faith often reflected long and hard over actions that they had taken or where about to take, very much taking individual responsibility and realising that they (ultimately?) would be held to account. Perhaps those of other faiths or none are happy to take their guidance and absolution from their fellow man?


    The answer to the original question is probably down to the fact that organisations recruit in their own image, 'if your face fits' etc.Protestants succeed where Protestants have succeeded.


    In the UK context the chocolate makers Cadbury, Fry and Rowntree were all Quakers. Sadly they are now just brand names, should they have stuck to their religious principles?
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