Emotional Contagion Consequences During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study in Iran

Emotional contagion (EC) occurs when one person’s moods and emotions influence others’ feelings. This study aims to understand employees’ lived experiences regarding EC and its consequences in Iran during the pandemic. This study used a phenomenological framework to elicit employees’ experiences. Forty interviews with Iranian employees in 40 public organizations were conducted. Purposive sampling was used to identify the participants. The unearthed consequences were categorized into seven themes: mental disorders, negative emotions, negative physiological changes, job burnout, communication apprehension, venting at the workplace, and work-family spillover. Although several studies have considered the role of EC in the workplace, the consequences of EC during the COVID-19 pandemic in organizations have not yet been studied. Moreover, the findings illustrated that EC during the COVID-19 pandemic has dire consequences, which are not only confined to the individual sphere of employees but also permeate organizations, clients, and even families.