Date of Conferral

8-7-2024

Date of Award

August 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

James Brown

Abstract

Employee burnout significantly impacts employee well-being, organizational efficiency, and overall productivity. Emotional labor, a central determinant of burnout, is necessary for effective governance but it is not known how the role of effort, engagement, and supervisory satisfaction contribute to burnout among federal employees in the United States government. Given the rising concern over federal employee burnout, understanding these dynamics is vital for policymakers, managers, and employees. Underpinned by the conservation of resources theory, the purpose of this study was to explore the direct effect of emotional labor on burnout and the indirect mediating effects of effort, engagement, and supervisory satisfaction using the 2016 Merit Principles Survey. Using an exploratory quantitative research design, the study included the use of Hayes PROCESS mediation modeling to examine the relationships between the variables among 9,695 federal employees. The results revealed a significant direct effect of emotional labor on burnout. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that increased effort was associated with increased burnout, while higher engagement and supervisory satisfaction were associated with reduced burnout. The findings suggest that emotional-based policies and practices that enhance employee engagement and supervisory support may effectively reduce burnout among federal employees. Additionally, interventions aimed at managing emotional labor demands may further mitigate burnout. These insights contribute to positive social change through a deeper understanding of burnout in federal workplaces and offer practical strategies for fostering a healthier, more productive workforce.

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