Almost half of hospitality managers and employees admitted that they have a poor work-life balance, according to a new study from UK charity Hospitality Action.
The charity surveyed 503 managers and employees for its annual Taking the Temperature mental health and wellbeing survey, finding that of those who have a poor work-life balance, 62% junior hospitality employees said burnout is just part of the job.
Among those citing a poor work-life balance and experiencing burnout as a daily reality, 61% reported experiencing a mental health issue in the past year.
When asked to identify the top three workplace challenges affecting wellbeing in the workplace, under-resourcing and understaffing was the biggest issue, cited by 57%, which was a 21% increase from 2024.
High expectations and excessive workloads was the second biggest issue at 52%, up from 43%, while work-life balance concerns were raised by 50%, up from 45%. Mental health was cited as the third most common reason for absence from work.
Although two-thirds (66%) said their workplace has created a working environment where mental health can be openly discussed, 63% remain concerned that vocalising a mental health challenge could negatively impact their progression.
Three-quarters (78%) now feel more comfortable discussing a mental health concern, a 21% increase from five years ago, and 55% called for more management training to better support teams and identify mental health concerns early.
Nine in ten (89%) managers prioritise listening as their first supportive step, with 75% recognising the value of signposting staff to an employee assistance programme for help, up from 67% last year.
Mark Lewis, chief executive at Hospitality Action, said: “On the one hand, we must applaud the industry for its concerted efforts and investment to support the mental health and wellbeing of our employees. But there’s still work to be done.
“It’s clear that there remains a significant gap between policy and practice, with a disconnect between what employers believe they are delivering, and what employees actually experience. Whatever good is being done, the negative factors continue to outweigh. Safeguarding the wellbeing of our remaining workforce has never been more vital.”
