Dirty work refers to occupations and job activities that are likely to be observed as repulsive or degrading. Dirty work has fueled a substantial body of research. The bulk of the literature focuses on psychological mechanisms used by experienced employees to cope with the potential stigma and dirtiness of the profession. However, relatively little is known about how newcomers adjust to dirty work environments and how managers affect their socialization. The present dissertation proposes an interactionist model to investigate how contextual variables (i.e., realistic job preview, managers’ positive framing tactics, family influence) and demographic variables (i.e., sex) impact newcomers’ turnover, work role performance and state positive affect in a slaughterhouse environment. By exploring these relationships, the research advances the dirty work and socialization literatures and extends theory in both areas. Furthermore, the insight from this study inform organizational practice on the antecedents of adjusting to dirty work whereas most of the existing studies focus on how employees develop coping mechanisms while on the job.