UC study says to ‘shake it off’ when faced with workplace stigma
Lindner researchers analyze the psychological effects of working a ‘dirty’ job
Safety+Health magazine highlighted research by Lindner College of Business doctoral candidates and faculty titled, “Shake it off: The role of self-consciousness in dictating whether dirty work reduces satisfaction through emotional exhaustion.”
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.
Featured image at top of sanitation workers over an open manhole. Photo/iStock/Vladimir Zapletin
Related Stories
Inside UC’s Rhetoric & Professional Writing Program
November 18, 2025
Professional writers are the artists who bring the science of business, technology, and discoveries to life. They are storytellers who break down complex stories for everyday readers. The University of Cincinnati’s Rhetoric and Professional Writing (RPW) program in the College of Arts and Sciences gives students real-world experience from day one – an approach that helped recent grad, Olivia Hoge, turn her capstone work into her new career.
Tamron Hall Show features CCM Musical Theatre student
November 18, 2025
Last year, UC College-Conservatory of Music student Erin Morton went viral after giving a performance of Radiohead's "Creep" on campus. Since then, she landed the role of Martha Dunnstock in "Heathers the Musical" at New World Stages and was recently featured on the Tamron Hall Show.
CCM actors build skills for the digital age
November 18, 2025
The BFA Acting program at UC's College-Conservatory of Music prepares students for careers in theatre and beyond in the evolving entertainment landscape. The Cincinnati Business Courier highlights the program's work in UC's Digital Performance Lab, showcasing how CCM's performance training embraces innovation in the digital era.