How to Identify and Combat Burnout in Hospitality Workers

Hospitality is a notoriously stressful industry with a high burnout rate.

On the plus side, it offers employees a high-energy environment with excitement and buzz. On the negative side, long and unsociable hours combined with low pay can deflate even the brightest worker.

Here are some ways to spot staff members who might be buckling under the strain.

The signs of employee burnout

The three main symptoms of burnout in hospitality workers are classed as physical (fatigue and illness), emotional (unhappiness, mental health issues) and behavioural (affecting productivity).

These can show up in the following ways. Workers may:

• Take more frequent sick days.
• Look exhausted.
• Take less care with their appearance.
• Turn up late and be less productive.
• Socialise less with colleagues.
• Be touchy and irritable.

If any of these sound familiar, you may be dealing with cases of burnout among your own employees.

How to deal with burnout and nurture staff

While it’s important to identify and manage burned out employees, it’s preferable to try and prevent it in the first place.

Smart hospitality companies take employee welfare seriously by implementing robust workplace policies. Here are some examples.

Flexible shifts

Giving staff more flexibility in their working week is a sure-fire way to ease pressure. Allowing workers to swap shifts and juggle hours gives staff more control, boosts morale and increases staff loyalty too.

Regular breaks

No-one functions at optimum level if they’re run ragged at work. Your staff need regular shift breaks to keep them well and productive.

This means they have time to stretch their legs, check their Facebook feed or have a snack.

It also gets them out of the pressure-cooker environment of a hotel kitchen or busy reception desk.

Don’t cut corners

When finances are tight, it’s tempting to drop a worker or two off a schedule to save money. Yet this can be false economy.

Do this too often, and your workers will become tired, resentful and prone to making mistakes. You run the risk of losing customers and staff, both being expensive to replace.

Overhaul company culture

If staff are fed up and error-prone, take a hard look at the culture of your company. Are you supportive, inclusive and interested in your staff? Or do you use up your workers then throw them away?

Give staff positive feedback on their performance. Ask how they’re going. Listen to their concerns. Make an effort to accommodate their needs in the workplace.

Show them the future

Workers who know they are working to a clear goal are more likely to be happy, motivated and energised in their hospitality jobs.

Training options and career paths help them to feel a real part of your company as well as giving them a reason to come to work each day.

If you’re finding it hard to snag great hospitality candidates, consider using a specialist recruitment agency with years of experience in the industry.