If you fake-smile a lot at work, you’re more likely to drink heavily
If you’ve ever worked in a public-facing job, such as retail, hospitality, call centres and other similar offices, then you know first-hand just how hard it can be to keep a smile on your face all day.
In fact, a new study on U.S service workers published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology this year has found proof that having to be pleasant to other people while you’re at work makes you more likely to drink heavily. Yep, you heard that right. The study discovered that people who work with the public are more inclined to have an increased level of alcohol consumption.
That’s anyone who works with customers on the regular, such as retail and hospitality workers, and extends to public facing roles such as health-care staff, call centres and government offices.
The study surveyed the drinking habits of 1592 people who have public or customer-facing roles, including nurses, teachers, and those who work in the food industry. The researchers found that forcing yourself to fake a positive demeanour can be so exhausting that it makes you more likely to drink more than people who don’t have to deal with the public.
As it turns out, having to smile all day isn’t so good for your health.
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