Emotional Labour in the Context of Policing in Victoria: A Preliminary Analysis

Abstract

Much research has been undertaken and much has been written about the effects of emotional labour in the service and helping industries. While there has been much conjecture as to the definitions of emotional labour, there has been little serious analysis on the effects on police officers of performing emotional labour. On the one hand, the available evidence suggests police officers are among the most stressed employees of all professions, whilst on the other, the limited research on emotional labour and policing makes only tenuous links possible between the performance of emotional labour and high-stress outcomes in policing. This paper reviews emotional labour theory, past studies of employees and the culture within Victoria Police (Australia) and their stress claims data. Further research is required to establish a link between performing emotional labour and the stress of police officers.