The hospitality industry is a fast-paced, dynamic, and exciting place to work. However, sometimes, its unique challenges create pressure on employees which can be difficult to handle alone.
4 out of 5 hospitality professionals have reported experiencing mental health issues during their career, and a survey by The Burnt Chef Project showed that 84% of respondents experienced poor mental health influenced by their work. Profit margins have always been humble, but this, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis, long anti-social hours, pressure to perform and tough working conditions are just a few of the issues staff are faced with on a daily basis.
A study by the Living Wage Foundation (May 2023) revealed that the hospitality sector has the highest proportion of low-paid jobs in London. The data showed that 53% of jobs in hospitality pay less than the London Living Wage, which is currently £11.95 per hour. With inflation surpassing 10%, hospitality workers and their families face increased risk of in-work poverty, which could further harm their mental wellbeing. Unsurprisingly, the impact of this stress on employees, reports that 53% of all current hospitality workers are looking to leave their current roles.
Unfortunately, some issues within the sector are the hardest areas to implement change – for lots of business, increasing wages isn’t a viable option. And many are already doing their best to pay the living wage.
Mental health support is essential for maintaining a healthy workplace. Currently, 31% of hospitality businesses consider this as a crucial workplace benefit, yet only 24% of the sector receive such support from their employers. Poor mental health can lead to decreased performance and higher staff turnover. By providing mental health support, employers can foster a positive and healthy work environment, where staff feel recognised and valued.
Navigating the options out there can be overwhelming for employers, however, there are excellent resources available to help implement effective mental health initiatives.
At Hospitality Rewards, mental health support is regarded as a non-negotiable benefit that should be available to all employees. We provide an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which gives members access to 24/7, 365, health and wellbeing support, plus up to 8 free counselling sessions. Our goal is to help employees find their own solution to whatever is impacting their mental wellbeing, in turn, supporting employers with their retention and reducing turnover rates.
If you would like to learn more about our EAP or how Hospitality Rewards can help you and your team, you can book a free demo by clicking here.
If you, or someone you know is struggling and need urgent help:
- Burnt Chef Project: Text BURNTCHEF to 85258 or call 0800 085 1376 (UK 24/7)
- Samaritans: You can call 116 123, 24/7 (free from any phone), email [email protected]
- SANELine: You can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10pm every day).
- CALM: You can call the CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day)
- Shout: If you would prefer not to talk but need support, you could text SHOUT to 85258.