Meaningfulness of Work and Emotional Labour in Services: A Case Study

This thesis examines the relationship between meaningful work and emotional labour in the environment of Prague cocktail bars. It draws on the concepts of emotional labor and meaningful work and employs a qualitative approach combining semi-structured interviews with bartenders and the researcher’s long-term immersion in bar settings. The data is analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings show that meaningful work is closely tied to the management of emotional demands. Deep acting supports authenticity and professional pride, while surface acting is associated with exhaustion and alienation. Collective dynamics and organizational culture further determine whether emotional labor functions as a protective resource or as a burden. The study also contributes to a deeper understanding of service professions, where the significance of emotional labor profoundly shapes workers’ everyday experiences.