Chapter 1 The Emotion Experiences of Employees in a Work Setting

Cara Jonker; Nadia Botma

doi:10.1108/S1746-9791(2012)0000008006

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Research on Emotion in Organizations

ISSN: 1746-9791
Series editor(s): Neal M. Ashkanasy, Wilfred J. Zerbe and Charmine E. J. Härtel

Subject Area: Organization Studies

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Chapter 1 The Emotion Experiences of Employees in a Work Setting

Document Information:
Title:	Chapter 1 The Emotion Experiences of Employees in a Work Setting
Author(s):	Cara Jonker, Nadia Botma
Volume:	8 Editor(s): Neal M. Ashkanasy, Charmine E.J. Härtel, Wilfred J. Zerbe ISBN: 978-1-78052-676-8 eISBN: 978-1-78052-677-5
Citation:	Cara Jonker, Nadia Botma (2012), Chapter 1 The Emotion Experiences of Employees in a Work Setting, in Neal M. Ashkanasy, Charmine E.J. Härtel, Wilfred J. Zerbe (ed.) Experiencing and Managing Emotions in the Workplace (Research on Emotion in Organizations, Volume 8), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.13-49
DOI:	10.1108/S1746-9791(2012)0000008006 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Article type:	Chapter Item
Abstract:	The objective of this study was to investigate and explore the emotion experiences of employees in a work context. A non-probability sample (N=52) was taken from the mining industry in the North West and Gauteng Provinces of South Africa. Data collection was done through a phenomenological method of semistructured in-depth interviews and observations. Content analysis was used to analyze and interpret the research data through open coding. The main goal was to determine the emotion experiences of employees, and the following three themes were extracted on the basis of three research questions: what are the particular emotions employees experience at work; what are the specific events or situations that lead to these emotions; and how do employees manage or control these emotion experiences. Some of the emotions experienced were anger, aggression and frustration, disappointment, and suspicion, skepticism and cynicism. The specific events were divided into three levels namely organizational, group, and individual level. Some of these events included organizational culture, lack of managerial support, supervisory relationships and ineffective communication, relationships at work, and role conflict. It was also found that employees make use of emotion work, emotional intelligence, and emotional distancing and detachment to regulate and manage emotion experiences.