Nearly half of hospitality employees struggle at work due to their mental health, research reveals

Nearly half (48%) of hospitality employees said they are struggling at work due to their mental health, according to research from Vitality.

The research revealed that while almost one in four (24%) rated their mental health as poor over the past six months, hospitality workers may be among the most vulnerable to burnout, with almost one in five (18%) reporting frequent burnout in the past year. 

However, despite this, some employees remain reluctant to raise health concerns at work, as less than half (48%) of hospitality employees feel comfortable raising mental health concerns at work, compared with 57% of UK employees overall. 

The data found that while just over half of hospitality employers have invested in formal health and wellbeing initiatives, there remains a disconnect between support offered and how it is experienced by employees. 

Something many in the sector don’t expect to change as only a third (31%) feel confident that their employer will improve its approach to health and wellbeing support in the next 12 months, significantly below the national average of 48%. 

Gary Impett, director of corporate at VitalityHealth, said “Hospitality is one of the UK’s most people-focused industries, but our research suggests many employees are facing significant pressures without feeling fully supported.

“Long hours, physically demanding roles and the expectation to consistently deliver positive customer experiences can all place additional demands on wellbeing.

“The findings highlight a clear opportunity for employers to create environments where employees feel comfortable speaking up about health concerns and can access support that meets their needs.