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Global Health Econ Sustain Job satisfaction and burnout in the catering industry

Individuals experience disruptions in their interpersonal outcomes (Williams, 2003). All the symptoms mentioned
relationships, display rapid changes in their moods, and above can affect the general health of employees and, on an
create heated arguments. Poor-quality interpersonal adverse level, can be a problem not only in their workplace
relationships can lead employees to experience intense but in all areas of their lives.
insecurity about their ability to successfully contribute This research aims to fill a gap in the literature due to the
their services at work. In their attempt to deal with the absence of relevant research in relation to burnout and job
problem, they limit themselves from their social circle and satisfaction in the catering industry in Greece. Despite the
absent themselves from work. The next stage that follows industry being recognized for its challenging conditions, it
after all these signs is the onset of occupational fatigue and is necessary to explore whether working as a waiter has a
burnout (Arı & Bal, 2008). People with burnout syndrome negative or positive impact on individuals in terms of their
experience various physical, emotional, and psychological social and personal lives. The objectives of this study are
discomforts. The most effective approach to address (i) to investigate job satisfaction and job burnout based on
burnout at the individual, managerial, or organizational age and years of work experience and (ii) to determine the
level is the acceptance of it; only then is it possible to seek impact of job satisfaction and job burnout on the general
the necessary solution. Especially within organizations, health of individuals.
managers should be aware of the burnout experienced by
their employees. Executives’ knowledge and awareness of Based on the literature review, the following research
the issue simplify the problem-solving process (Arı & Bal, hypotheses were formulated: (i) there is a statistically
2008). significant correlation between job satisfaction and general
health, (ii) there is a statistically significant correlation
Some individuals are considered more susceptible to between occupational burnout and general health, and (iii)
burnout compared to others, and this can be explained age and years of work experience are differentiating factors
by a number of personal characteristics reported in for job satisfaction, occupational burnout, and general
the literature. The characteristics that contribute to health. This study could help identify the impact the
increased burnout may include the worker’s age, gender, mentioned factors have on people working in the catering
work experience, and personality type. In terms of age, industry and whether one affects the other.
older people are more mature and stable than younger
people, have more balanced thinking, and are, therefore, 2. Methods
less prone to burnout (Maslach et al., 1997). In terms of
gender differences, studies have reported the diversity 2.1. Research design
of emotions that govern them (Martin, 2000). Gorji To investigate the impact of job satisfaction and burnout on
et al. (2011) reported a statistically significant difference the general health of waiters in the restaurant industry and
in the frequency of burnout between genders, whereby how it varies across different demographic characteristics,
the males experienced burnout at a higher level than the a cross-sectional quantitative research approach is selected.
females. On the contrary, Maslach et al. (2001) stated that In quantitative research, the goal is to identify differences
gender had no influence on burnout; instead, the type of based on demographic characteristics. The potential impact
chosen profession does. Pelit & Türkmen (2008), using the of job satisfaction and job burnout on general health was
“Maslach Burnout Inventory” to determine the burnout assessed using questionnaires. Job satisfaction and job
levels in hotel employees, found that employees were burnout are independent variables, while general health is
indeed experiencing burnout. Furthermore, the research regarded as dependent since it changes in response to the
revealed no significant difference in burnout levels based independent variables.
on demographic characteristics such as gender, level of
education, and work experience. Therefore, it is beneficial 2.2. Study participants
to note that the factors of the work environment and the In this study, a specific design, utilizing a convenience
personal characteristics of an individual are connected sample, was used. Convenience sampling involves selecting
to each other and function in a way that intensifies the research subjects based on their ease of recruitment. This
magnitude of burnout in individuals in a distinct manner. method facilitates the quick collection of data. The specific
Since burnout is conceptualized as the result of continuous research interest and the entry criteria for participation
challenging interactions with difficult customers, which focused on people who were active in the catering industry
may be exacerbated by poor treatment, it is beneficial to in the age group of 20 – 40. The participants in the study
identify, address, and give importance to work-related were required to meet the conditions, including proficiency
problems in employees, such as emotional labor and in the Greek language for completing the questionnaires
burnout, which may affect services and individuals’ health and at least 2 years of experience in the catering industry.

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.1852