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Emotional labor in a non-isolated service encounter - The impact of customer observation on perceived authenticity and perceived fairness

Author

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  • Olk, Stephan
  • Lindenmeier, Jörg
  • Tscheulin, Dieter K.
  • Zogaj, Adnan

Abstract

Emotional labor is a frequently discussed topic in the service literature because of its varying effects on customers' evaluation processes. Previous research has primarily investigated the effects of emotional labor from an employee-customer perspective. This article considers customer copresence and argues that the observed interaction between an employee and another customer affects the focal customer's evaluation process. An extended customer-employee-customer model is presented and empirically tested in a pharmacy setting. The findings show that distinctive emotional labor affects customers' perceptions of authenticity and fairness. This study presents a more nuanced account of the effectiveness of emotional labor and provides managers with advice to enhance point-of-sale interactions.

Suggested Citation

  • Olk, Stephan & Lindenmeier, Jörg & Tscheulin, Dieter K. & Zogaj, Adnan, 2021. "Emotional labor in a non-isolated service encounter - The impact of customer observation on perceived authenticity and perceived fairness," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:58:y:2021:i:c:s0969698920313242
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102316
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Chen, Jing & Yu, Bo & Chen, Bintong & Liu, Zhuojun, 2023. "Lenient vs. stringent returns policies in the presence of fraudulent returns: The role of customers’ fairness perceptions," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    3. Al-Kilani, Shaymaa & El Hedhli, Kamel, 2021. "How do restaurant atmospherics influence restaurant authenticity? An integrative framework and empirical evidence," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    4. Yang, Defeng & Chen, Xiaoyun & Ma, Baolong & Wei, Haiying, 2022. "When can interaction orientation create more service value? The moderating role of frontline employees' trust in managers and employee deep acting," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    5. Park, Hyewon & Hur, Won-Moo, 2023. "Customer showrooming behavior, customer orientation, and emotional labor: Sales control as a moderator," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    6. Zhu, Hong & Zhou, Yayu & Wu, Yening & Wang, Xin, 2022. "To smile or not to smile: The role of facial expression valence on mundane and luxury products premiumness," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    7. Stephan Olk & Dieter K. Tscheulin & Jörg Lindenmeier, 2021. "Does it pay off to smile even it is not authentic? Customers’ involvement and the effectiveness of authentic emotional displays," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 247-260, June.
    8. Asante, Daniel & Tang, Chunyong & Kwamega, Michael & Asante, Eric Adom, 2022. "In pursuit of service encounter quality: Will service-oriented high-performance work systems benefit high-contact service industries?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    9. Chunhao Ma & Biying Wang & Caozhi Sun & Le Lin, 2023. "The Spillover Effect of Emotional Labor: How It Shapes Frontline Employees’ Proactive Innovation Behavior," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.

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