emotional labor

American  

[ih-moh-shuh-nl ley-ber] / ɪˈmoʊ ʃə nl ˈleɪ bər /

noun

1. the sum of small acts performed by one person to make other people’s lives more pleasant and to protect them from negativity, including hiding the effort required to do so.

2. the suppression of negative emotion and the assumption of a polite and cheerful facade at work, especially by employees in the service industry, as waitstaff, flight attendants, sales clerks, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of emotional labor

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

“Make more, better hours, less emotional labor. ... We’re seeing a lot of folks being enticed.”

From Los Angeles Times

Researchers have been calling for greater societal recognition of mothers’ “invisible labor,” the hidden cognitive and emotional labor that operates within families and society.

From Washington Post

Help: I've fallen deep into the chasm of emotional labor, and I can't get up.

From Salon

Help: I've fallen deep into the chasm of emotional labor, and I can't get up.

From Salon

As Japanese engineers discovered, it also entails emotional labor—the cheerful greetings, chitchat, and spontaneous smiles that put customers at ease.

From Slate