Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Emotional Labor in the Workplace. Sustaining smile vs. sustainable smile: a case study from Denmark

Heim, Lisa LU (2020) SMMM20 20201
Department of Service Studies
Abstract
Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to enhance the existing scope of emotional labor(EL) literature and broaden its reach to discussing the role of emotional labor in the workplace from a social sustainability perspective, exemplified within the context of hotel service work. It tries to identify how EL is experienced by hotel service employees and to understand how service employees perceive their contribution towards a hotel’s service delivery in order to draw a link to hotel service work as being socially sustainable.

Methodology: This research project is carried out as a qualitative case study drawing on data derived from 13 semi-structured interviews with hotel service employees working at Marienlyst Strandhotel in... (More)
Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to enhance the existing scope of emotional labor(EL) literature and broaden its reach to discussing the role of emotional labor in the workplace from a social sustainability perspective, exemplified within the context of hotel service work. It tries to identify how EL is experienced by hotel service employees and to understand how service employees perceive their contribution towards a hotel’s service delivery in order to draw a link to hotel service work as being socially sustainable.

Methodology: This research project is carried out as a qualitative case study drawing on data derived from 13 semi-structured interviews with hotel service employees working at Marienlyst Strandhotel in Helsingør, Denmark.


Results: Hotel service employees regard EL and the display of appropriate emotions
as an essential part of their jobs. The enactment of EL implies a triple-sided interaction between an employee, the hotel guests, and the employee’s coworkers. Consequently, the display, the understanding, and the exchange of emotions determines both the service and work environment in which encounters between guests and employees take place. As a result of this study, EL is introduced as a tool that enables employees to stimulate positive work- and service environments through social interaction. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Heim, Lisa LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Emotional Labor in the Workplace
course
SMMM20 20201
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Tourism and hospitality, emotional labor, hotel service employees, hotel, service environment, work environment, social sustainability
language
English
id
9012328
date added to LUP
2020-11-20 10:42:40
date last changed
2020-11-20 10:42:40
@misc{9012328,
  abstract     = {{Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to enhance the existing scope of emotional labor(EL) literature and broaden its reach to discussing the role of emotional labor in the workplace from a social sustainability perspective, exemplified within the context of hotel service work. It tries to identify how EL is experienced by hotel service employees and to understand how service employees perceive their contribution towards a hotel’s service delivery in order to draw a link to hotel service work as being socially sustainable. 

Methodology: This research project is carried out as a qualitative case study drawing on data derived from 13 semi-structured interviews with hotel service employees working at Marienlyst Strandhotel in Helsingør, Denmark.


Results: Hotel service employees regard EL and the display of appropriate emotions
as an essential part of their jobs. The enactment of EL implies a triple-sided interaction between an employee, the hotel guests, and the employee’s coworkers. Consequently, the display, the understanding, and the exchange of emotions determines both the service and work environment in which encounters between guests and employees take place. As a result of this study, EL is introduced as a tool that enables employees to stimulate positive work- and service environments through social interaction.}},
  author       = {{Heim, Lisa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Emotional Labor in the Workplace. Sustaining smile vs. sustainable smile: a case study from Denmark}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}