![]() We are pleased to be able to share the results of this research, which will shortly be published in one of the top journals in our field, Academy of Management Discoveries ( 4). We learned that veterinary workers’ ability to engage in emotional regulation is critical to doing their jobs well, and may be necessary for them to enjoy long and rewarding careers. Emotional regulation involves shaping one’s emotional experience by increasing experienced emotions (think of an athlete getting “psyched up” before a big game), decreasing emotions ( taking deep breaths to stay calm in an anxiety-provoking situation), or maintaining them (striving to stay “in the moment” during an enjoyable event) ( 5). More specifically, through our conversations with veterinary workers, we developed the concept of an emotional comfort zone, which is comprised of a worker’s personal preferences for feeling and expressing emotion. Participants who were able to stay in their comfort zones while performing euthanasias appeared to benefit in a number of ways, including being able to execute required technical tasks effectively, avoid burnout, and enjoy a sense of authenticity from experiencing genuine emotion. ![]() Learning about emotional regulation in veterinary work We also identified common circumstances that tended to move workers outside of their comfort zones, as well as organizational practices that helped workers to transition into and remain within their comfort zones, thereby making it easier for them to deal with the intense emotions of their jobs. In our research, we used interviews to learn about how veterinary workers regulated their emotions during euthanasia, as well as what practices and events appeared to be more or less helpful when doing so. We studied 5 clinics in 3 Canadian cities. They were all urban clinics that ranged in size from 4 to over 50 employees and with most of their business involving companion animals. Three of the clinics were family practices, and 2 were specialty referral clinics. The interviews ranged from 30 minutes to over an hour in length, with the average interview lasting 40 minutes. In total, we conducted 54 interviews, with 11 veterinarians, 20 veterinary technicians, and 23 veterinary assistants. Next, we share what we learned from these interviews, focusing on 3 themes: i) how workers were both proactive and reactive when regulating their emotions ii) workers’ “emotional comfort zones,” and iii) how situational “facilitators” and “hindrances” could influence workers’ ability to regulate their emotions. We include quotes from our interviewees to illustrate each theme. Regulating emotions reactively and proactively ![]()
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