Yes, i see it! Unveiling the implications of human trafficking awareness on employees' quality of life in the hotel industry

Author: Bakir, Selim; Furlong, Courtney & Ayoun, Baker

Abstract: Human trafficking is a complex crime that often intersects with the hospitality industry. For this reason, several efforts are underway to increase awareness of trafficking within the hotel industry. Human trafficking awareness requires an understanding of the nature of human trafficking, recognition of its warning signs, knowledge of how to report suspected cases, and a willingness to help victims and, in doing so, combat the crime. However, prior research has not sufficiently addressed the critical issue of human trafficking from the perspective of hotel employees. This study develops a novel model to empirically investigate the effect of human trafficking awareness on hotel employees’ professional quality of life, drawing on the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) and Job Demand–Control–Support (JDCS) models, as well as Affective Events Theory (AET). Servant leadership and sense of control are proposed to moderate the association between human trafficking awareness and professional quality of life, serving as critical resources for managing the demanding job tasks associated with addressing human trafficking in the hotel industry. The present investigation analyzed responses from 337 hotel employees in the United States. Human trafficking awareness was found to be significantly and positively associated with employees’ professional quality of life, contrary to our negative assumptions. This finding suggests that, beyond its role in depleting psychological resources as emphasized in stress-based frameworks, human trafficking awareness can also contribute to moral meaning, professional purpose, and a sense of moral accomplishment. Further, the moderators, servant leadership, and sense of control further improved the professional quality of life. Implications for theory and managers, as well as directions for future research, are outlined.

Keywords: human trafficking, sex trafficking, hotel employee, professional quality of life, servant leadership