A serious mental health crisis is emerging in the British hospitality and event management sector, according to a recent survey by Hospitality Action, which questioned more than 500 professionals. Two-thirds of respondents said their work-life balance was unsatisfactory, and many considered burnout to be a natural consequence of their job. Mental health issues are now the third most common cause of absence from work.
The biggest challenges are low staffing levels (57%), excessive expectations (52%), and a deteriorating work-life balance (50%). Although the stigma surrounding mental health issues has decreased somewhat, 63% of workers still fear that openly acknowledging them would be detrimental to their careers.
Skiddle’s survey of the music and events industry shows similar worrying trends: 74% of professionals have experienced mental health issues due to their work, and half of them struggle with a poor work-life balance. A significant proportion of workers in the sector (29%) are forced to take on a second job, while 37% admitted that workplace stress has led to problematic substance use.
While employees mostly try to manage stress through exercise and social support, only 15% seek professional help. Many do not even know where to access industry-specific mental health support. There are also shortcomings on the management side: often, the knowledge and tools needed to support teams’ mental health are not available.
The Night Time Industries Association and Hospitality Action are also calling for targeted policy measures and emphasising that a significant number of jobs have been lost in recent times – and that labour shortages are exacerbating the problem.
According to industry experts, it is essential to:
- improve the availability of mental health support in the industry,
- train managers in prevention and treatment,
- introduce more flexible working time models and alleviate staff shortages to ensure long-term sustainability (C&IT).