Norwich, England — Appreciation from colleagues and supervisors can help workers cope with negative experiences on the job, according to the results of a recent study.
A team of international researchers used data from 71 adult workers in Cyprus who completed an online questionnaire twice a day – immediately after work and at bedtime – for five consecutive days. Participants answered questions about feelings of embitterment (an emotional response to perceived workplace injustice), the degree to which they’re given tasks they find unreasonable or unnecessary, how much appreciation they received from their co-workers and supervisors, and how much they thought about work during their time off.
Findings show that the workers experienced embitterment on days when they were assigned more unreasonable tasks than usual. That resulted in dwelling on negative feelings, which prevented them from detaching from work. This cycle often occurred on days when the participants received less appreciation than usual from their co-workers and supervisors.
That recognition, the researchers note, is an important factor in mitigating negative experiences and helps protect an employee’s well-being.
“Fostering a culture of appreciation among colleagues can serve as a protective factor, helping employees cope with workplace stress,” study co-author George Michaelides, a professor at the University of East Anglia, said in a press release. “Organizations can support this by equipping employees with the skills to express gratitude effectively, creating a more positive and resilient work environment.”
The study was published in the journal Work & Stress.
