Sanjey found VOCA from 12 time zones away. He felt that the culture of the bank where he worked was changing. He was wondering about leaving. Someone from a startup had pitched him a role. Was his growing discomfort around the values of his firm a sign it was time to go? Renee generally loved her job. The tension for her arose around overt pressure to take specific and public stands on various social issues. She felt genuine respect for... Read more

There is an old song by the Clash called Should I Stay or Should I Go. It’s about romance. And it’s the same question many of us are asking about our jobs. Our team of coaches is talking to people like you about this question every week, especially in the last two years. However, this question of whether the grass is greener on the other side isn’t new. We’ve been asking it since we stopped accepting the vocations our parents... Read more

It was 2007, year 14 of my 20-year run as a pastor, and I was burned out. I found myself spending more time at the YMCA, lingering in the pool to avoid going to the office. At work, I couldn’t concentrate and found myself resorting to scanning headlines instead of getting things done. There was a noticeable difference in my speaking and preaching. Discerning people would meet with me to awkwardly share that I lacked real conviction in my sermons.... Read more

What is the most significant challenge facing us at work? It’s not inflation or the Great Resignation. It is not working from home or questions about values. The greatest challenge facing us at work is fitting work into the rest of our lives. Popularly known as work-life balance. In November of 2021, VOCA asked respondents to report their most significant dilemmas at work. By combining respondents from our network and other faith and work partners, we received responses from people... Read more

Why Talk About Dilemmas? Most of us are on some sort of quest for better work. We may want a better job, a new job, or just a job. We may be hoping to work less and “live more.” We may long for work that connects to an enduring sense of purpose. We may be starving for work that doesn’t overshadow every other area of life. We may long to escape paying work and do some volunteer work. 2021 delivered... Read more

Editor’s Note: Dr. Chip Roper, Founder and President of the VOCA Center, was featured as a guest writer for the Winter edition of Outcomes magazine. This piece was originally published there. You get a phone call, a text comes in, or you finally have some time to sit back and think. No matter the source, you realize that change is upon you. A growth opportunity is starting to take off, a new external challenge threatens your organization, or a critical... Read more

Are you on a quest for the perfect job? Every week at VOCA, we are talking to people about their career options and work realities. Some of our clients are displaced. They have lost their jobs. Others are restless. They hate their jobs. All are struggling with the same question: what is God’s plan for my work life? The hundreds of clarity seekers who come to VOCA are not alone. The Barna Group recently released fresh research on a belief that is... Read more

You get a call, an email, or a text. “Guess what? I’ve got a new job.” Out of the blue, with no prior warning a good friend, a family member, or maybe even you announce to people in your closest circles that you’ve made a major change. None of them were aware. None were consulted. A transition is made known only after the fact. The transitionee leaves many of their closest scratching their heads. And everything settles down until they... Read more

All of us face the tension of dealing with people in our orbit who are responding differently to vaccine and mask mandates. The pitch is rising as major companies and those who fall under newly enforced federal regulations, require vaccines for in-person workers. Police, home health aides, nurses, and white-collar workers are being let go or put on leave for refusing to comply. Those who aren’t vaccinated and oppose the mandates are having to make hard choices, choices they feel... Read more

Editor’s Note: Dr. Chip Roper, Founder and President of the VOCA Center, was featured as a guest writer for the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work. This piece was originally published at nifw.org. Everybody seems to be quitting their job or thinking about it. If you are content where you are, it can feel like you’re missing something. You are not imagining this. Every month, 3 to 4 million people are quitting their jobs. It’s called the “Great Resignation.” All... Read more