ABSTRACT
This introductory chapter of Organizational Compassion provides a concise overview of the evolution of organizational compassion scholarship. It defines organizational compassion and distinguishes it from related concepts such as pity, sympathy, and empathy. The chapter underscores the prevalence of workplace suffering, originating from both personal challenges and preventable workplace-induced distress. Furthermore, the chapter discusses the ethical and practical reasons for incorporating compassion in the workplace, recognizing its multifaceted advantages in terms of physical, emotional, social, and performance aspects. It stresses the significance of exploring organizational compassion through various theoretical lenses, including those of power relations, paradox, and practice, which underpin the book's overarching theories. A central theme of the chapter is the dynamic nature of organizational compassion. It is an ongoing process unfolding between compassion-givers and compassion-receivers, offering insights into the nuanced aspects of compassionate
