This study explores the factors that affect the accumulation of employee emotional capital and the subsequent returns generated in an organisation. It uses qualitative research methods based on interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to collect data which enables an in-depth investigation of the lived experience of the participants. This study identifies how factors like investment, leadership, culture, and systems impact the accumulation of employee emotional capital in an organisation. It also identifies which specific returns emotional capital can generate for individual employees and the organisation. This study also augments the Socio-technical systems theory (Trist and Bamforth, 1951) and makes it more relevant for the current business scenarios. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of factors which can strengthen the integration of technology and human components of an organisation and generate a higher order performance.