'Service with a smile'? Faking emotions at work makes you drink more, study suggests

A recent study is suggesting employers should rethink policies encouraging workers to offer "service with a smile."

The study published earlier this month in the peer-reviewed Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found employees who force themselves to smile or evoke or positive emotions in front of customers are more likely to drink heavily after they clock out.

Researchers at Penn State University and the University of Buffalo used data from phone interviews with more than 1,500 U.S. workers, compiled from a larger survey funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The data analyzed included information on how often employees performed "surface acting," or faking or suppressing their emotions, as well as their drinking habits after work.

The study found employees who interacted with the public drank more alcohol after work. Researchers also found a link between "surface acting" and heavy drinking.

"Smiling as part of your job sounds like a really positive thing, but doing it all day can be draining," said lead author Alicia Grandey, professor of psychology at Penn State, in a statement.

More:Why you shouldn't tell a woman to smile

The study said the links were stronger for employees who worked at jobs where they had one-time encounters with customers, like a coffee shop. In a statement, Grandey said "surface acting" is less likely to lead to heavy drinking for employees who find their work more rewarding.

"Nurses, for example, may amplify or fake their emotions for clear reasons," Grandey said. "They're trying to comfort a patient or build a strong relationship. But someone who is faking emotions for a customer they may never see again, that may not be as rewarding, and may ultimately be more draining or demanding."

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.