Hospitality Bosses Urged to Prioritise Staff Mental Health This Christmas

As the hospitality industry heads into its busiest period of the year, bosses are being urged to keep employee mental health firmly in focus.

Experts say longer hours, increased pressure, ongoing staff shortages and the cost of living crisis could all take a toll on workers during the festive season if the right support is not in place.

Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training, has shared guidance on how employers can better support their teams over Christmas.

Encouraging a Healthy Work Life Balance

Hospitality staff often work evenings, weekends and bank holidays, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Richard said: “Hospitality workers are often working weekends, evenings and bank holidays, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Whilst these dates do need covering, having an open conversation with the team to ensure they’re happy with the rota, and that it will allow them to take some time for themselves, could be a great way to show employees that their wellbeing really is front and centre.

“Keeping a flexible rota will also help encourage a healthy work-life balance: knowing that they are able to swap shifts with other workers will allow them to make plans in advance and have more events to look forward to. Often, weekly, fortnightly or even monthly rotas can feel restrictive, so keeping it open and flexible, particularly around Christmas, is key to helping employees balance personal and professional commitments.”

Offering Mental Health Training

Richard highlighted the benefits of mental health training for hospitality teams.

He said: “Investing in mental health training courses for your team will not only help them to understand and manage their own wellbeing, but also spot the signs of co-workers that might be struggling, and know the best ways in which they can provide support.

“Being open and transparent with your team, and showing them that you understand that the festive season can be stressful in hospitality, and that you want to do everything you can to ensure that they feel fully supported will go a long way towards making them feel valued as employees. Starting with a training course is an effective, tangible way to put this into practice.”

Creating Space for Open Communication

While some staff may feel uncomfortable talking about mental health at work, employers are encouraged to make it clear that support is available. Creating a judgement free environment where employees feel safe to speak up, or to be directed to professional support if needed, is seen as an important step.

Supporting Staff With Difficult Customers

Busy festive periods can sometimes lead to difficult interactions with customers. Hospitality bosses are advised to make sure staff know management will support them if issues arise. This can include clearly explaining procedures during team briefings so workers know what to do if they experience rudeness from customers.

Looking After Management Wellbeing Too

Richard also reminded employers to pay attention to their own wellbeing.

He said: “Remember to look after yourself too – you can’t help others if you are not well yourself. Try to ensure that you are getting enough sleep, eating well, and setting the necessary boundaries to maintain positive wellbeing through the festive season and beyond.”

More information about High Speed Training’s Mental Health Awareness courses and advice on talking about mental health at work can be found on their guide on how to talk about mental health in the workplace.