Emotional labor definition. Hochschild Emotional Labor 2022-11-01

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Emotional labor is a term used to describe the effort, planning, and control that goes into managing one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. It is a type of labor that is often invisible and unpaid, and is typically performed by women and other marginalized groups.

The concept of emotional labor was first introduced by sociologist Arlie Hochschild in 1983, in her book "The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling." Hochschild observed that many jobs, particularly those in the service industry, require employees to regulate their emotions in order to effectively interact with customers and clients. She referred to this as "surface acting," in which employees put on a façade of positive emotions in order to fulfill the emotional needs of their customers, even if they are feeling negative emotions themselves.

In addition to surface acting, Hochschild also identified "deep acting," in which employees attempt to genuinely change their own emotions in order to better align with the emotional expectations of their job. Deep acting can be more draining and emotionally taxing than surface acting, as it requires a greater level of emotional effort and control.

Emotional labor is not limited to the service industry. It is a pervasive aspect of many jobs, particularly those that involve caring for others, such as teaching, nursing, and social work. It is also common in leadership roles, where employees are expected to maintain a positive attitude and serve as a role model for their team.

The performance of emotional labor can have both positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, it can help employees effectively navigate challenging or emotionally charged situations, and can also contribute to customer satisfaction and loyalty. On the other hand, the constant effort to regulate and manage one's emotions can be emotionally draining and lead to burnout.

It is important for employers to recognize and value the emotional labor that their employees perform, and to provide support and resources to help them manage the emotional demands of their job. This could include things like providing training on emotional intelligence and self-care, as well as setting boundaries and allowing for breaks to recharge.

In conclusion, emotional labor is a type of labor that involves the effort, planning, and control of one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. It is a prevalent aspect of many jobs, and can have both positive and negative consequences. Employers have a responsibility to recognize and value the emotional labor of their employees, and to provide support and resources to help them manage the emotional demands of their job.

Emotional Labor in the Workplace: Emotional Labor Definition

emotional labor definition

Retrieved 19 Dec 2020. That is, occupations with high cognitive demands evidence wage returns with increasing emotional labor demands; whereas occupations low in cognitive demands evidence a wage "penalty" with increasing emotional labor demands. Part of being a certified nursing assistant goes beyond What Is Invisible Labor? Research in Organizational Behavior. For example, in a Facebook group for women, a woman asked, "Do nonbinary people join women's and men's groups? Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs. In such cases, team leads need to let employees know that they trust and support them.

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Emotional Labor

emotional labor definition

Planning social gatherings for friends and coworkers Now, what about a person who's always planning drinks after work or throwing parties for friends? Another way to explain the link between emotional labor and burnout is to consider the role of surface acting. In Namely, such firms have customer rating systems, which means that employees have to achieve almost perfect reviews — in order to not be deactivated. Workers then take stock of their own emotional state in order to make sure that the emotion they are expressing is appropriate to their roles. Put employees first, not customers: Giving employees autonomy and support is key: allowing them the freedom to take a break if needed, or to decide how to manage emotions, and supporting the employee if a customer is rude My research also showed that when employees felt that their emotional labor was financially rewarded — with tips or raises, for example — that performing surface acting was actually satisfying, and less unpleasant. The reason for this is because they are on the front lines of the government, and are expected by citizens to serve them quickly and efficiently. University Of California Press; 2012.

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Emotional labour

emotional labor definition

After a while, the anger goes away. Emotional Labour Defined 2. Identification may indeed render emotional labor enjoyable and enhance well-being p. It is usually caused by stress. For instance, workers know what emotions are desired for their job role. This type of labor takes a mental toll on employees. American Journal of Public Health.

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What is Emotional Labor?

emotional labor definition

And a nurse must soothe a sick patient while being the recipient of his berating demands. This restrictive script prevents service providers from interacting with customers based on spontaneous intuition, but on a script drawn up by employers. Academy of Management Review. In addition, surface acting also includes faking a good mood when communicating with clients. University of California Press. Employees display organizationally desired emotions while interacting with others at the workplace, irrespective of how they are feeling covertly.

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Feminism 101: What is Emotional Labor?

emotional labor definition

That's why taking breaks also means stepping away from surface acting as well. The mental load specifically refers to the mental tasks and exhaustion that comes with being the de facto household manager. Though emotion work was intended to be used for separate situations than emotional labor, the two have been considered interchangeable in recent years. Deep acting involves a genuine attempt to feel the socially appropriate emotion. For the individual, the positive aspects of emotional labor include financial rewards i.

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Emotional Labor: What It Is and What It Is Not

emotional labor definition

Thousand Oaks, California: Pine Forge Press. In other words, the interaction with the public under the guidance of the organization, manages the desired display of emotions that are not necessarily felt by the employee itself. Sit down with them and talk this through, and see if there are ways you can step up or more evenly spread the load, in order to make that balance more equal. Teachers, nursing-home attendants, and child-care workers are examples. Surface acting is in general harmless. In other words, surface acting changes your public display of emotion.

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Emotional labor: What it is and what it is not — Clockify

emotional labor definition

I understand the distinction of an academic term, but I feel the term emotional labour does a better job of capturing the truly draining effect, while mental load can feel a little more trivial although this is just my personal opinion. Journal of Vocational Behavior. Flight attendants working at this company go through a specific training program. For instance, when you visit the airport, you may find a few ground staff members who are extremely proactive and attempt to help all passengers. These display rules are performed in order for the employee to be able to act friendly and to disguise anger and disgust, even in facing some of the most annoying customers.

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emotional labor definition

In such cases, it's almost inevitable that they'll experience emotional labor. All relationships involve some level of emotional work, from caring for a friend who's feeling down to trying to articulate your emotions respectfully while arguing with your romantic partner. People in their everyday lives experience emotions by suppressing them in uncomfortable situations or displaying a more accepted behavior that is considered appropriate. Thus, surface acting can also drain energy, which can cause emotional dissonance. How emotional labor leads to fatigue Another study on The survey included 1,320 hotel employees from 5 Seoul hotels. These acts cross the line between emotion work and emotional labor because women are expected to carry out these tasks without question or reciprocation from their partners.

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