Authenticity and employee wellbeing with reference to emotional work: a review

Abstract

Purpose In the service industry, there is an involvement of the human factor which comprises continuous interpersonal interactions. Sometimes, these interactions create incongruence between displayed and felt emotions which distract the employees from their authentic self and impair their well-being. This paper aims to made an attempt to review different studies to identify an association between authenticity at the workplace and employee well-being with reference to emotional work. Design/methodology/approach The different studies have been reviewed mentioning the association between authenticity at the workplace and employee well-being with reference to emotional work published during the period of 1983–2020. The database which is used to identify and extract the research papers includes APA PycNET, Business Perspectives, Elsevier, Emerald Insight, Inderscience Publishers, SAGE, Taylor and Francis, etc. The keywords used for shortlisting the studies include employee well-being, emotional work, emotional dissonance, job satisfaction, surface acting, authenticity, burnout, authentic living, self-alienation. Findings The study has determined that emotional work influences the authenticity of an employee which further impacts the well-being of employees. Research limitations/implications The present review would aid the researchers in explaining the relevance of authenticity at the workplace for enhancing the employee well-being specifically in emotional work settings. Social implications Promoting well-being at the workplace requires an action-oriented approach from the national level also. Hence, the present study may help in drawing inferences for framing well-being policies for employees at the national level. Originality/value The paper is amongst the few reviews which have analysed the substantial role of authenticity in the context of emotional work to improve employee well-being.

Employee workplace wellbeing amid disruptions

“…Indeed, COR theory indicates that individuals with different traits evaluate resource loss differently (Hobfoll and Lerman, 1989), thus, the variations in the destructive impact of job insecurity, customer incivility and work-life imbalance are well understood. This finding is supported by different scholars (Mehta, 2021) who revealed, for instance, that the devastating consequences of customer incivility differ among employees with different characteristics. In fact, the capacity to experience positive emotions shields resilient individuals against hopelessness (Fredrickson et al, 2003) because these emotions can comfort their autonomic nervous system following emotional arousal and assist them in reloading their physical resources to cope with the situation (Fredrickson and Joiner, 2002).…”

“…Unfortunately, the continuous interpersonal interactions in the service sector, emanated from the involvement of the human factor, trigger mismatch between the displayed and the felt emotions, which distract organizational members from their true self and impair their well-being (Mehta, 2021). What is peculiar to note in this study is that the felt emotions while serving a depositor whose savings were vanished might be full support and empathy, as the bank tellers are depositors too with no access to their money; however, they are obliged to abide by the rules of their bank, respecting the rules imposed by the central bank.…”

Correlation Between Personnel' Authenticity in the Workplace, Burnout and Well-Being

“…Escalating workplace tensions highlights the importance for businesses to establish roles that serve as catalysts for employee well-being (Forbes, 2023). Over the past decade, it has transitioned from a benevolencefocused program to a strategic initiative for organizational success (Mehta, 2021).…”

Innovative Entrepreneurship Case Study for Virtual Business: The Cultural Phenomenon of Rentaru Kareshi in a Post Modern Consumer Society

“…This service utilizes digital platforms to reach consumers, offering easy access and flexibility in selecting and scheduling meetings. In the context of innovative entrepreneurship, this business model demonstrates the ability to identify and fulfill specific market niches, namely the need for temporary relationships and emotional support that are often overlooked by traditional servicesc (Mehta, 2021) . However, behind the convenience and comfort offered, there are challenges in maintaining a balance between commercial and ethical values, especially in maintaining authenticity and emotional well-being for both service providers and consumers (Huang & Lin, 2020).…”