Resilience and Exhaustion in Egyptian Hospitality: The Effects of Fear and Job Insecurity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has had a profound and lasting impact on the hospitality sector worldwide, particularly in developing economies such as Egypt.This study examines the relationships between Egyptian restaurant frontline employees' fear of COVID-19, job insecurity, and emotional exhaustion, offering insights into the pandemic's impact on occupational stress and employee well-being.Drawing upon the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this research examines how fear of COVID-19 directly and indirectly influences emotional exhaustion through job insecurity, and the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS).Data were collected from 171 restaurant employees working in five-star hotels in Cairo using a structured questionnaire.Confirmatory factor analysis and PROCESS macro analyses were used to test the proposed model.Results revealed that fear of COVID-19 significantly increased job insecurity and emotional exhaustion, while job insecurity mediated this relationship.Moreover, POS was found to moderate the link between job insecurity and emotional exhaustion.The findings contribute to theoretical and practical understanding of crisis management in hospitality by highlighting the enduring psychological consequences of pandemic-related fear and insecurity.The study remains relevant beyond 2021, offering guidance for managing employee well-being during future crises and disruptions.