Abstract

Purpose - Most studies related to emotional labor have been conducted in the low-contact service industry rather than the high-contact service industry. Since the subjects of this study were golf service assistants, working in an industry in which the interaction and contact between customers and employees are considerable and the degree of customization is high, this study is significant. Thus, we would like to focus on the relationship between the humor style of golf service assistants and emotional labor. Humor style was divided into two styles-adaptive humor and maladaptive humor. Emotional labor was divided into two dimensions-surface acting and deep acting. In addition, we identify the relationship between emotional labor, job satisfaction, and turnover intention. Research design, data, & methodology - This study focuses on the humor styles in the golf service industry, among golf service assistants, on their emotion labor, and verifies the relationship between emotion labor and work satisfaction or job turnover intention. Based on the outcome, a total of four hypotheses were set up. To verify the hypotheses, surveys were conducted on the golf service assistants working in two golf fields in the region of Busan as well as its neighboring area. A total of 250 copies of the questionnaire were distributed. Subsequently, a total of 227 valid questionnaire copies, after excluding improper responses, were used in the analysis. After verifying the reliability and feasibility of variances, Amos 18.0 was used to implement the structure method so as to verify the study hypotheses. As a result of this analysis, the suitability of the entire model was considerably appropriate to the standard value, and the level is adequate to accommodate the study model completely. Results - First, it was found that the adaptive humor of golf service assistants had a positive effect on deep acting and maladaptive humor had a positive effect on surface acting. Second, It was found that employees' satisfaction with their job was reduced through surface acting, and those employees who experienced positive emotional labor in the form of deep acting were more satisfied with their job. Third, surface acting among employees increased turnover intention, but deep acting reduced it. Finally, the relationship between job satisfaction and the turnover intention of golf service assistants in the golf service industry was examined. Conclusions - First, the adaptive humor of the golf assistants in the golf service industry had a positive effect on their expression behavior. Second, deep acting increased their job satisfaction while their surface acting had a noticeably negative effect on their job satisfaction. Third, the surface acting of the emotion labor dimensions that the golf service assistants experience increases their turnover intention while their deep acting decreases their turnover intention. Finally, when analyzing the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention of the golf service assistants, it was found that the turnover intention decreased when their job satisfaction is increased.

Keywords

• High-Touching Service;
• Humor Style;
• Emotional Labor;
• Job Satisfaction;
• Turnover Intention