EXPRESS: Beneficial banter: How chit-chat and self-oriented perfectionism influence feelings of energy and burnout

This study examines how workplace chit-chat and self-oriented perfectionism influence feelings of energy and burnout in the hospitality industry. Drawing on conservation of resources theory and interaction ritual theory, it proposes that the interplay between chit-chat at work and self-oriented perfectionism leads to greater feelings of energy, which in turn reduces employee burnout. Data were collected from hospitality employees via Prolific using a three-wave design. The results show that chit-chat at work moderates the relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and feelings of energy and mediates the indirect impact of self-oriented perfectionism on employee burnout through feelings of energy. Findings highlight the complementary roles of chit-chat and self-oriented perfectionism in boosting employees’ feelings of energy and mitigate burnout, offering actionable insights for the hospitality industry.