Employee Retention Masterclass – Why mental health should be an employer's top priority

Most job postings these days are looking for someone who’s “able to multitask” and “works well under pressure”. The implication? That you’re expected to work under constant stress and jump from task to task. Who’s created this work culture? Customers or us ourselves?

Hospitality work has never been a “laid-back,” stress-free job with short hours. Research shows that up to 85% of hospitality workers in the UK have experienced symptoms of poor mental health within the last 12 months. The work environment and tricky hours are among the top reasons given for why people decide to quit their hospitality jobs.

In The Shift Towards Retention, Planday asked 2,000 UK shift workers about their work priorities and habits – and found that 36% of respondents wished to receive better support for mental health from their employer. They also stressed the need for more balance between their work and private life. Having enough days off and access to work schedules earlier would significantly improve the lives of hospitality workers. In fact, up to 46% of respondents would not recommend a job in the industry due to lack of control over rotas.

We chatted with Kris Hall – founder of The Burnt Chef Project – and Planday Partner Tenzo about how business owners can combat the mental health issue in the industry and keep their talent happy by planning ahead and improving work conditions.