The stereotypical image of an employee often evokes someone seated at a desk, working a predictable nine-to-five schedule in front of a computer. Yet, for many workers, daily labour looks very different. Their routines involve strenuous physical tasks, exposure to hazardous environments, and irregular hours that extend late into the night. Consider the neighbourhood garbage collector: theirs is a role that society frequently labels as “dirty,” not only in a literal sense but also through the social stigma attached to such work.

Recognising the toll of these perceptions, Scott Dust, PhD, professor of management at the University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, collaborated with doctoral candidates Sodiq Babatunde and Ben Fagan to examine how stress and stigma intersect to affect the well-being of individuals employed in these so-called “dirty jobs.” Their findings were published in the Journal of Management & Organization in a study entitled “Shake it off: The role of self-consciousness in dictating whether dirty work reduces satisfaction through emotional exhaustion.”

Babatunde underscored the essential contributions of these workers, emphasising that they play a vital role in sustaining public health and safety. “Dirty workers keep the environment clean, help us live healthy and keep us safe,” he explained. “These individuals are essential workers. They do things that many of us cannot or will not do, yet they continue to face stigma for their efforts.”

Fagan added that the key to addressing this issue lies in amplifying the sense of dignity and value these workers derive from their jobs. “The way to combat this,” he noted, “is to ensure that the pride they feel in what they provide for society outweighs the sting of judgement they may encounter.”

The data supported this perspective. The research demonstrated that individuals with higher levels of self-confidence are less susceptible to the adverse effects of public perceptions about their careers. As Dust explained, “Although easier said than done, those who are less concerned about how others view them are more resilient. They are better able to ‘shake it off’ and sustain job satisfaction, regardless of whether their work is labelled as ‘dirty.’”

Importantly, the team did not place the responsibility solely on the workers themselves. Their study also outlined strategies for managers and organisations to actively support employees in these roles, helping to reduce the burden of stigma and create work environments where essential labour is recognised for its dignity, necessity, and value.

More information: Sodiq O. Babatunde et al, Shake it off: The role of self-consciousness in dictating whether dirty work reduces satisfaction through emotional exhaustion, Journal of Management & Organization. DOI: 10.1017/jmo.2025.10021

Journal information: Journal of Management & Organization Provided by University of Cincinnati