Emotional Labour

My mother-in-law recently spent over a month in palliative care at Canossa Private Hospital before passing away. A difficult time for all involved but something we have to face eventually.

I've been amazed, as I am everytime I engage with a hospital, by the dedication and care displayed by the nurses and other staff who work there. These individuals undertake arguably the most demanding work of our century: emotional labour.

First coined by the sociologist Arlie Hochschild Emotional Labour involves managing one's emotions so that they are consistent with what is expected from someone in that occupation or organisation, regardless of the person's internal feelings.

A nurse, for example, is expected to display empathy all the time. Even when they are having a bad day. This is the challenge of emotional labour.

The demand for Emotional labour will continue to increase over the decades ahead. An ageing population, increased life expectancy and the move from the information age to the experience age will drive this demand.

If you are an emotional labourer, I thank you.

If you are not, go and thank someone who is.

Thank god we have them.