Emotional labor and core self-evaluations as mediators between organizational dehumanization and job satisfaction

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the mechanisms underlying the negative relationship between the feeling of being dehumanized by the organization and employees’ job satisfaction. More precisely, we argue that emotional labor (i.e., surface acting) and core self-evaluations act as mediators in this relationship. A total of 326 employees participated in our study. Firstly, the results showed that, independently of one another, both surface acting and core self-evaluations partially mediated the relationship between organizational dehumanization and job satisfaction. Secondly, surface acting and core self-evaluations were found to have serial mediation effects in this relationship. Accordingly, experiencing dehumanization from the organization leads employees to perform more surface acting with deleterious consequences for their core self-evaluations and finally their job satisfaction.