Can social support help gritty hotel employees from burnout in the workplace?

Abstract Hospitality workers are affected by burnout due to a combination of stressors from the pandemic. The hospitality nature itself is another reason of easily burned out as employees have close interactions with customers, making them particularly vulnerable for developing burnout. The employers can recognize the power of grit to overcome obstacles and persist during failure to build meaningful connections. Based on the Conservation of Resources theory, this study assumes that hospitality employers can make use of social support in the workplace to shield against the impact of burnout. Results based on data collected from hotel employees in the United States shows that grit is negatively associated with employee burnout. This finding highlights the importance of strengthening grit among employees as a potential intervention to reduce burnout in the hospitality workplace. Besides, this study confirms the moderation of work social support on the relationship of grit and employee burnout. Findings from this study contribute to the literature on grit in hospitality workplaces and can practically help hotel managers assist employees overcome challenges, beat burnout, and thrive in the post-pandemic era.