When Bitterness Blocks Kindness: How Faith Helps Exhausted Employees Support Coworkers

What is it about?

This study examines how workplace embitterment—persistent resentment caused by negative work events—reduces employees’ willingness to help their coworkers voluntarily. It focuses on emotional exhaustion as the pathway through which bitterness affects behavior and religiosity as a personal resource that can weaken this harmful link. Using three rounds of survey data from employees and supervisors in various Pakistani organizations, the study finds that employees who feel wronged or insulted at work often become emotionally drained. This exhaustion reduces their willingness to help others or share expertise beyond formal duties. However, employees who draw strength from religious faith are less likely to experience such depletion. Their beliefs provide emotional stability, forgiveness, and perspective, shielding them from the harmful effects of workplace bitterness. For organizations, these findings show that embittered employees may slowly withdraw from supportive relationships, weakening collaboration and morale. Leaders should foster open communication to address frustrations early and prevent resentment. Resilience initiatives—like mindfulness, counseling, or community programs—can help employees manage negative experiences. Additionally, supporting personal belief systems, without favoring any religion, can sustain helping behaviors that promote teamwork and cohesion.

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Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study is among the first to reveal how an actually felt negative emotion—embitterment—directly drives declines in cooperative behavior, highlighting emotional exhaustion as the key mechanism. It extends prior work by demonstrating that religiosity serves as a protective buffer, reducing the emotional toll of bitterness and preserving positive engagement at work. The findings are particularly relevant today, as employees in Pakistan and elsewhere face heightened stress, inequities, and burnout. Understanding how faith-based and personal values can fortify employees against emotional depletion offers valuable insights for inclusive organizational well-being. The study thus contributes to a broader recognition that managing negative emotions and nurturing inner resources are central to sustaining compassion and productivity in modern workplaces.