Emotional labor is a central part of social workers professional practice, yet the management of the emotional demands that arise in their work is often given limited attention. This study aims to examine how social workers are emotionally affected by their work and to explore the strategies they use to manage these emotions. The study is based on semi‑structured interviews with social workers. 

The results show that social workers are influenced in their emotional labour both by organizational frameworks and by their encounters with clients. Social workers face strong emotional demands in their interactions with clients and often need to regulate their own feelings in order to maintain a professional approach. Participants describe emotional labor as both meaningful and burdensome, and note that insufficient support or reflection can increase the risk of emotional exhaustion. At the same time, the findings indicate that social workers develop individual strategies for managing emotions, such as seeking collegial support, setting boundaries, and using personal routines. 

The study highlights the importance of recognizing the extent of emotional labour—both in general and within organizations—and of providing structures that strengthen social workers ability to handle emotional demands in a sustainable way.