UC study says to ‘shake it off’ when faced with workplace stigma

Scott Dust, PhD, professor in the management department at the University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business, worked with doctoral candidates Sodiq Babatunde and Ben Fagan to analyze the impact of stress and stigma on well-being in jobs society considers "dirty," such as jobs in sanitation or corrections. 

“Although easier said than done, those that don’t have a tendency to care what people say or think about them are much more resilient in being able to ‘shake it off’ and maintain levels of satisfaction with their work regardless of whether others consider it ‘dirty,’” said Dust.

Using the study's data, the workplace safety-focused publication explained what the benefits of reducing emotional exhaustion could be for both employers and employees. It also suggested providing organizational support and other initiatives at a management level.

These interventions “will help their workers reduce the emotional exhaustion or help them interpret their role in a way that says, ‘I’m valuable. What I’m doing is worth it and contributing to society,’” said Fagan.

Safety+Health even linked to the Taylor Swift song that inspired the study’s title to drive the thesis of the findings home: When society gives you grief, just ‘shake it off’ to fight burnout.

Read the Safety+Health article.

Read more about the UC study.

Featured image at top of sanitation workers over an open manhole. Photo/iStock/Vladimir Zapletin