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

And if it’s a handmade quilt, it carries with it the good emotional vibes of its creator.

From Washington Times • Oct. 2, 2021