Employees’ helping behavior toward the victims of human trafficking in the lodging industry
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
ISSN: 0959-6119
Article publication date: 14 December 2022
Issue publication date: 11 May 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the factors that influence hotel/motel employees’ helping behavior toward the victims of human trafficking.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a survey-based quantitative method, this study examines and compares two models of helping behavior based on egoism and altruism theories to measure the helping tendencies of lodging employees toward victims of human trafficking.
Findings
The study results show that perceived intrinsic rewards of helping and empathy with the victims are the major antecedents of employees’ likelihood to help the victims.
Research limitations/implications
The study contributed to the egoism school of thought and the Cost-Reward Model by showing that only perceived intrinsic rewards drive individuals’ intention to help in risky covert situations, such as human trafficking, while perceived extrinsic rewards may demotivate people to help in these situations.
Originality/value
Previous studies overlooked the role of the lodging industry in human trafficking. This study focuses on service employees as potential helpers of the victims as they notice in hotels/motels.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This manuscript includes parts of a dissertation written by the first author. The authors owe special thanks to the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s Dick Pope Sr. Institute for Tourism Studies for providing financial support for this study.
Citation
Farboudi-Jahromi, M., Tasci, A.D.A. and Sönmez, S. (2023), "Employees’ helping behavior toward the victims of human trafficking in the lodging industry", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 35 No. 6, pp. 2216-2245. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-04-2022-0454
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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