Metal Health Week 2022 will take place between the 9th and 15th of May. The Covid-19 Pandemic has affected everyone in the hospitality industry in some way or another. It has been a very stressful time for all, which has inevitably harmed the mental well-being of many of the employees working in the industry. Hospitality Actions 2020 Mental Health survey showed that 76% of those involved in the survey felt that the Covid-19 restrictions were causing the most stress in the workplace than any other factor.
Although the Covid-19 restrictions are no longer in place the pandemic has left a long-lasting effect on the industry. The BBC reported that 1 in 5 chefs left the industry during the pandemic leading to a major chef shortage in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Falite Ireland reported in March 2022 there were 40,000 hospitality vacancies in the country, 10,000 of which were for kitchen staff. A survey conducted in 2021 by The Burnt Chef Project asked individuals who worked in the hospitality sector what they felt was the greatest barrier to working in the industry and 25% agreed that the work-life balance was the worst thing about their role, coming in 2nd place with 21% was the un-sociable hours. The staff shortage is likely to have intensified the impact of these factors as staff are being put into a position where they must work unfavourable hours to make up for the lack of workers. The survey also showed that 16% of people felt that the stressful work environment was the most off-putting aspect of working in hospitality. Statistics show that 1 in 5 hospitality workers have suffered from a work-related mental health problem at some point in their career.
(Pilot Light co-founder Doug Sanham)
Fortunately for the industry, there are some amazing organisations such as The Pilot Light Campaign Hospitality Action, The Burnt Chef Project and many more, working to offer support for anyone who needs it. Pilot Light offers podcasts and other support and resources created to offer advice and support to prevent burnout for hospitality workers. Their workshops are specifically tailored to teach your organisation as a whole to deal with issues that chefs face daily. One other crucial aspect of the Pilot Light Campaign is its personal resilience courses that aim to equip professionals with the tools needed to build up their own resilience and be able to cope with the stresses they may experience at work. The organisation is also investing in technology that will help employers and individuals monitor mental health with the aim to make positive behavioural changes that will help improve mental health for all within the business. To support the cause The Pilot Light Campaign will be hosting a fundraising event at Acme Fire Cult based on Abbot Street, London, the night consists of “food, chats and laughter, and a little fundraising”. If you’d like to attend the event and show your support for the Pilot Light campaign, follow the link below this article for tickets to the event.
Hospitality Action offers anything from financial assistance to mental health service provisions for restaurants and individuals who need their support. In 2020 alone they helped award 4,698 grants to organisations and individuals in the industry. The Burnt Chef Project aims to create a more sustainable and healthier environment within the hospitality industry in order to put people’s mental well-being first. The organisation is funded by its sales of merchandise and courses if you would like to support them check out their website below.
Links
Pilot Light @ Acme Fire Cult – a fundraising event - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pilot-light-acme-fire-cult-tickets-324346297507?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb
Burnt Chef - https://www.theburntchefproject.com/