The Relationship Between Emotional Labor and Organizational Commitment

Abstract

This research study aiming at revealing the relationship between emotional labor behaviors and organizational commitment perception levels of the instructors working in faculties of education, was designed in the relational screening model. The research was carried out with 365 volunteer instructors selected by proportional cluster sampling method and working in 12 Faculties of Education in ADIM Universities in Turkey. The data of the research was collected by using Organizational Commitment Scale and Emotional Labor Scale. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used in data analysis. As a result of the research, it was revealed that the instructors exhibited surface acting behaviors and affective commitment at the highest level. The instructors emotional labor levels were found to be significantly different according to their educational status and whether they did their job willingly or not; while their organizational commitment levels were found to be significantly different according to their title and whether they did their job willingly or not. It was also found that there were positive, low level and moderate, significant relationships between the instructors’ emotional labor levels and their organizational commitment. It was revealed that the instructors’ genuine acting and deep acting behaviors significantly predicted their affective, normative and overall commitment; while their surface acting, deep acting and genuine acting behaviors significantly predicted their continuance commitment. Various suggestions were made such as increasing emotional labor behavior levels of the instructors and appointing the instructors who are eager to do their job willingly.