Mental Health in Hospitality
- Tim Clements
- Mar 6, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 10, 2023
Mental Health in Hospitality
Three-quarters (74%) of hospitality employees have experienced verbal abuse from a customer.
Eighty-four % reported increased stress as a direct result of their job.
One in five (20%) have a severe mental health problem that they believe is related to work.
Findings from the Royal Society for Public health's research study Service With(out) a Smile.
More than a third (36%) of UK adults report experiencing workplace discrimination.
Over a third of people (34%) feel they've been turned down from a job due to discrimination of some kind.
Findings from A study conducted by CIPHR of over 2000 respondents on discrimination in the workplace
Diversity and Inclusivity
Under the Healthy and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, all employers have a legal responsibility to minimise the risk of stress-related illness to employees.
As an employer, you are responsible for supporting the health and wellbeing of your entire workforce.
Cultivating a workplace that values workforce inclusivity and diversity has never been more critical.
But, unfortunately, there is still vast inequality in the UK workplace.
For many employers, this inequality is lowering productivity and preventing financial growth.
Furthermore, it is causing employees to live unsatisfactory, unfulfilling, and uncertain work lives.
However, awareness is growing; workplaces are starting to address stigmas – new attitudes towards diversity in the workplace are on the horizon.
Progress requires change, but our nature is to resist change.
It is easier to stay in the comfort of familiar habits and behaviours. Yet this often acts as a barrier to progression.
For your organisation to successfully begin this change, you must recruit some key stakeholders and willing employees. You'll have to convince them of this change's value and benefits to do this effectively.
A mental health problem
The hospitality industry has been addressing the growing mental health issue and its effects on customers and employees.
To tackle this, many are introducing awareness training to promote a better understanding of poor mental health and help create a safe environment for all.
Taking proactive steps like these will create safe and supportive environments for customers and employees.
Encouraging positive mental health in the workplace is an essential skill for hospitality employees and teams to possess.
Companies can benefit from improved employee productivity and job satisfaction by cultivating a healthy working environment.
With training and support from employers, hospitality workers can develop valuable skills which help them reach their full potential professionally and personally - leading to increased business success overall.
Employees are at the heart of change. If your organisation is changing, the employees should actively orient and engage with the change.
When employees engage with the change, they are more likely to participate. Therefore, the more employees participating, the more successful said change is.
Measuring the impact of mental health training programs in hospitality needs to be carefully monitored and assessed if organisations wish to ensure that their investment has a positive effect.
The criteria for evaluating mental health training include measuring its effectiveness in improving employee mental wellbeing, resilience, and success on the job.
Additionally, criteria such as organisational culture change, employee satisfaction and a mutual, contemporary re-defining of the understanding of productivity are essential.
Understanding
Comprehending the industry challenges is essential for business success. Therefore, to recognise how vital it is to have access to knowledge, research and courses to deal with these difficulties is critical.
Not only does it enable workers to gain insight into their field of work – but understanding also helps improve life overall.
The United Kingdom offers plenty of opportunities for learning and growth, both in the classroom and the workplace.
With a wealth of knowledge to gain through educational institutions or professional experience.
Employee wellbeing
To ensure employee wellbeing, hospitality staff should have a supportive environment and resources to manage increased stress levels.
In addition, employing best practices can go a long way in helping employees find success while on the job.
Mental health awareness
Hospitality workers are especially vulnerable to mental health issues.
Therefore, their employers must have an employee assistance programme to provide support.
Stress significantly impacts employees' wellbeing, so businesses need to be aware of the signs and how they can help alleviate them.
Awareness of mental ill-health is essential for hospitality staff; providing access to affordable treatment options will ensure better mental health outcomes for those in the industry.
Trainings for Mental Health Awareness such as the MHFA course offered by Pete White Consulting are highly reccomended.
Mental health issues
Mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression can present a tremendous challenge for managers in hospitality industries; however, providing proper support to employees ensures their wellbeing is taken care of.
An Action Learning Set (ALS) can potentially build the confidence and trust of your employees by providing a structure for peer-support and peer-facilitation.
The structure of an ALS session can provide the direction, safety and process required to succeed.
The ALS is a platform for the team to support each other, be heard and share mutual experiences, thus creating cohesion and strengthening the bond between work colleagues.
Employee assistance programme
By cultivating a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, the hospitality sector can nurture their employees' physical health and mental wellbeing.
Training
Leadership, wellness, hospitality and support are essential to running a successful business.
Developing effective strategies, creating an inspiring environment and managing health both physical and mental, should be prioritised to ensure long-term success.
Helping you to set up a successful support and feedback network – that makes a difference in the workplace.
The ALS sessions create an environment for employees with a common identity to meet and support each other – building a community and sense of belonging.
They also function as a vehicle for social change by advancing inclusivity in the workplace.
Here are just a few of the benefits:
Benefits
Provides support between colleagues
Advises the business to identify areas of concern
Provides a safe space for employees to gain advice or guidance should they have concerns
Helps to break stigmas around being potentially honest and vulnerable.
Improves employee wellbeing by addressing key areas of concern.
Mental health in hospitality is an important issue that must be addressed. With the right training and support, employers can create a safe environment for their employees to share mental health issues openly and honestly without fear of stigma or judgement.
Hospitality resilience training provides staff with the skills needed to manage stress levels and mental wellbeing while on the job, which will not only benefit them but also have positive impacts on businesses overall.
We urge hospitality business owners to take action today by investing in mental health awareness programs for their workers so they can lead a healthier life both inside and outside of work.
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