Probing Emotional Intelligence to the Working Relationships of Coffee Shop Employees

Many individuals have mixed feelings about their jobs and the concept of work itself. Older employees may experience frustration or disappointment due to frequent challenging interactions and tasks that feel unfulfilling. Meanwhile, new workers often approach their first job with hidden anxieties or uncertainties. These feelings typically do not stem from a lack of willingness to work but rather from unfamiliarity with workplace expectations, interactions with colleagues, or appropriate behavior in a professional setting. This study aimed to assess the level of emotional intelligence (EQ) and determine, if any, the significant relationship between EQ and working relationship (WR) among the employees of selected coffee shops in Consolacion, Bohol, and Leyte. Eighty-five (85) coffee shop workers responded to two tests: 1) a standardized test, Bar-On EQ i:S by Bar-On, designed to measure their level of emotional intelligence; and 2) a researcher-made test- the Working Relationship questionnaire, designed to assess the satisfaction level of working relationship with co-workers. Results showed that the majority had a low level of EQ and mostly perceived good working with coworkers. It was found through the Pearson r correlation coefficient that emotional intelligence was negatively correlated with the working relationship among the respondents. Testing its significance at the .05 level, the null hypothesis was rejected, stating that EQ and working relationships are negatively related. The results showed a negative correlation between the two variables and implied that the lower the EQ, the higher the WR or vice versa. Implications of the study include having a healthy working relationship with co-employees, which should not be solely attributed to enhanced emotional intelligence alone. Low emotional intelligence does not necessarily impede or hinder managing better human relations at work.