As lockdowns and staff furloughing go on, research by CGA and CPL Learning highlights an increasingly pressing need for businesses to protect the wellbeing of their teams.
Past surveys of the Hospitality Professionals panel of people working in frontline roles show many staff felt well supported in previous lockdowns. During the first widespread closure of hospitality last spring, just over half (52%) of employers provided wellbeing support via online resources, regular check-ins and group chats, and six in ten staff felt their wellbeing was being prioritised.
With local and national restrictions continuing well beyond that initial shutdown, many employees have endured several moves in and out of furlough as their businesses reopen and close. This has led to widespread stress and anxiety about job security, and more than half (58%) of the Hospitality Professionals panel think their personal wellbeing is worse during this latest lockdown than in the first one.
This research flags the urgency of promoting people’s wellbeing during a very difficult time for everyone in hospitality,” says Chloe Sheerin, consumer research executive at CGA. “The longer that working restrictions continue, the more important it becomes to promote the mental health of our industry’s teams.”
“While so many venues are closed, anything that employers can do to support people online will be welcomed. As well as providing crucial personal support, efforts will also pay dividends by improving teams’ perceptions of their employers and building their confidence ahead of their return to work after lockdown.”
The Hospitality Professionals research suggests regular emails and WhatsApp groups can help staff to feel connected while on furlough, with weekly communication regarded as a minimum. CPL Learning have been supporting the sector throughout with free online mental health and wellbeing resources.
Jamie Campbell, COO at CPL Learning said: “We know the continued importance of providing teams with wellbeing support, especially as things are so uncertain at this time. We have strived to help operators in providing this support, from covering basic skills and knowledge through our online courses to the motivational content being shared through our Aspire channel. We now need to keep evolving as the situation progresses and ensure we continue to address the needs of frontline hospitality teams.”
E-learning to support mental wellbeing include the free Personal Resilience and Mental Health Support Champion online courses. And on the new Aspire channel for team members, there are a range of additional resources with more being added in the coming weeks.
