Work engagement and burnout in hospitality across Europe

Abstract

The goal of this study is to explore the role of workplace recognition in tourism and hospitality workers’ well-being. The study specifically examines the influence of workplace recognition on two facets of well-­ being: burnout as an indicator of ill-­ being and work engagement as an indicator of well-­ being. The study takes a quantitative approach. Main concepts were measured using a set of variables taken from the fifth wave of the European Working Conditions Survey: a sample of 2715 European hospitality workers. The findings reveal that workplace recognition is a relevant antecedent of work engagement and burnout of hospitality workers. Specifically, workplace recognition is an enhancer of work engagement and an inhibitor of burnout. Work engagement also mediates the relationship between workplace recognition and burnout. This study fills a gap in the lack of research on workplace recognition as an antecedent of work engagement and burnout and presents an overall European perspective.