Essential service worker valorization: a deonance perspective

ABSTRACT

As a historically stigmatized group, essential service workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly became known as ‘heroes’ by an appreciative society. The purpose of this qualitative study was to interpret the valorization of essential service workers through a Deonance Theory perspective. Findings revealed nuances in simultaneous competing and complimenting behavioural motivations among members of society. Theoretical implications include the interpretation of Deonance Theory at the societal level, which extends applications beyond the prediction of behavioural motivations at the individual level.

KEYWORDS:

• Justice
• fairness
• qualitative research
• services industries
• hero
• pandemic

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by grant number T42OH008438, funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIOSH or CDC or the Department of Health and Human Services.