ARCHIVED: Mental Health in the Hospitality Industry

People who work in the hospitality and service industries face a unique set of requirements, stressors, and challenges that affect the mental health of everyone in the industry. We know that taking care of the physical and mental health needs of employees helps their feelings of well-being and loyalty. Hospitality employers want to know how to do this better. Optum and Active Minds need your help to understand the challenges and needs you’re facing in your workplace. Your responses will help us create tangible resources to share with hospitality employers to help improve the culture of mental health in your workspaces.

With that in mind, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and experiences as an employee in the hospitality industry.

With that in mind, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and experiences as an employee in the hospitality industry.

Question Title

* How long have you worked in the hospitality industry, cumulatively (i.e. lodging, restaurants/food services, travel, event planning, transportation, etc.)?

0-1 year

2-4 years

5-9 years

10+ years

Question Title

* Select the option that most accurately describes your current or most recent job in the hospitality industry:

Server/bartender/bar-back/food runner

Event planner

Restaurant manager

Hotel manager

Receptionist/bellhop/concierge/front desk

Management

Chef, sous chef, food preparation

Housekeeping

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* How often is/was there a manager and/or shift lead present when you are/were at work?

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question Title

* How stressful or not stressful are/were the following elements of your job?

	Extremely stressful	Very stressful	Moderately stressful	Not very stressful	Not at all stressful	N/A
Inability to communicate with other employees due to language barriers	Inability to communicate with other employees due to language barriers Extremely stressful	Inability to communicate with other employees due to language barriers Very stressful	Inability to communicate with other employees due to language barriers Moderately stressful	Inability to communicate with other employees due to language barriers Not very stressful	Inability to communicate with other employees due to language barriers Not at all stressful	Inability to communicate with other employees due to language barriers N/A
Customer interfacing (needing to be always “on”/friendly/extroverted)	Customer interfacing (needing to be always “on”/friendly/extroverted) Extremely stressful	Customer interfacing (needing to be always “on”/friendly/extroverted) Very stressful	Customer interfacing (needing to be always “on”/friendly/extroverted) Moderately stressful	Customer interfacing (needing to be always “on”/friendly/extroverted) Not very stressful	Customer interfacing (needing to be always “on”/friendly/extroverted) Not at all stressful	Customer interfacing (needing to be always “on”/friendly/extroverted) N/A
Job instability	Job instability Extremely stressful	Job instability Very stressful	Job instability Moderately stressful	Job instability Not very stressful	Job instability Not at all stressful	Job instability N/A
Inconsistent or long hours	Inconsistent or long hours Extremely stressful	Inconsistent or long hours Very stressful	Inconsistent or long hours Moderately stressful	Inconsistent or long hours Not very stressful	Inconsistent or long hours Not at all stressful	Inconsistent or long hours N/A
Wages when based on tips or commission	Wages when based on tips or commission Extremely stressful	Wages when based on tips or commission Very stressful	Wages when based on tips or commission Moderately stressful	Wages when based on tips or commission Not very stressful	Wages when based on tips or commission Not at all stressful	Wages when based on tips or commission N/A
Fear of making mistakes	Fear of making mistakes Extremely stressful	Fear of making mistakes Very stressful	Fear of making mistakes Moderately stressful	Fear of making mistakes Not very stressful	Fear of making mistakes Not at all stressful	Fear of making mistakes N/A
Feeling like the customer always has to be right	Feeling like the customer always has to be right Extremely stressful	Feeling like the customer always has to be right Very stressful	Feeling like the customer always has to be right Moderately stressful	Feeling like the customer always has to be right Not very stressful	Feeling like the customer always has to be right Not at all stressful	Feeling like the customer always has to be right N/A
Lack of trust from or with management	Lack of trust from or with management Extremely stressful	Lack of trust from or with management Very stressful	Lack of trust from or with management Moderately stressful	Lack of trust from or with management Not very stressful	Lack of trust from or with management Not at all stressful	Lack of trust from or with management N/A
Communication issues with management and/or other employees	Communication issues with management and/or other employees Extremely stressful	Communication issues with management and/or other employees Very stressful	Communication issues with management and/or other employees Moderately stressful	Communication issues with management and/or other employees Not very stressful	Communication issues with management and/or other employees Not at all stressful	Communication issues with management and/or other employees N/A

Question Title

* Please elaborate.

Question Title

* How supportive would you say your workplace culture is/was of your mental health (pre-COVID-19)?

Not at all supportive

Not very supportive

Moderately supportive

Very supportive

Extremely supportive

Question Title

* Thinking about your workplace, what do you think would contribute to building a culture that feels supportive of your mental health? (If you are already in a supportive environment, what makes it so?)

Question Title

* How helpful would the following policies/protocols/activities be in promoting a workplace environment that feels supportive of your mental health?

	Extremely helpful	Very helpful	Moderately helpful	Not very helpful	Not at all helpful
Pre-shift personal and team-related check-ins	Pre-shift personal and team-related check-ins Extremely helpful	Pre-shift personal and team-related check-ins Very helpful	Pre-shift personal and team-related check-ins Moderately helpful	Pre-shift personal and team-related check-ins Not very helpful	Pre-shift personal and team-related check-ins Not at all helpful
Information about how to connect with local mental health resources	Information about how to connect with local mental health resources Extremely helpful	Information about how to connect with local mental health resources Very helpful	Information about how to connect with local mental health resources Moderately helpful	Information about how to connect with local mental health resources Not very helpful	Information about how to connect with local mental health resources Not at all helpful
Consistent breaks for all employees	Consistent breaks for all employees Extremely helpful	Consistent breaks for all employees Very helpful	Consistent breaks for all employees Moderately helpful	Consistent breaks for all employees Not very helpful	Consistent breaks for all employees Not at all helpful
A clear system for getting shifts covered	A clear system for getting shifts covered Extremely helpful	A clear system for getting shifts covered Very helpful	A clear system for getting shifts covered Moderately helpful	A clear system for getting shifts covered Not very helpful	A clear system for getting shifts covered Not at all helpful
Consistent shift hours	Consistent shift hours Extremely helpful	Consistent shift hours Very helpful	Consistent shift hours Moderately helpful	Consistent shift hours Not very helpful	Consistent shift hours Not at all helpful
Consistent communication or check-ins with manager(s)	Consistent communication or check-ins with manager(s) Extremely helpful	Consistent communication or check-ins with manager(s) Very helpful	Consistent communication or check-ins with manager(s) Moderately helpful	Consistent communication or check-ins with manager(s) Not very helpful	Consistent communication or check-ins with manager(s) Not at all helpful
Opportunities for professional development	Opportunities for professional development Extremely helpful	Opportunities for professional development Very helpful	Opportunities for professional development Moderately helpful	Opportunities for professional development Not very helpful	Opportunities for professional development Not at all helpful
Recognition and/or gratitude from manager(s)	Recognition and/or gratitude from manager(s) Extremely helpful	Recognition and/or gratitude from manager(s) Very helpful	Recognition and/or gratitude from manager(s) Moderately helpful	Recognition and/or gratitude from manager(s) Not very helpful	Recognition and/or gratitude from manager(s) Not at all helpful
Staff bonding outside of work hours (holiday parties, retreats, etc.)	Staff bonding outside of work hours (holiday parties, retreats, etc.) Extremely helpful	Staff bonding outside of work hours (holiday parties, retreats, etc.) Very helpful	Staff bonding outside of work hours (holiday parties, retreats, etc.) Moderately helpful	Staff bonding outside of work hours (holiday parties, retreats, etc.) Not very helpful	Staff bonding outside of work hours (holiday parties, retreats, etc.) Not at all helpful

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* How important do you think the following messages are in promoting a culture that feels supportive of mental health in the workplace?

	Extremely important	Very important	Moderately important	Not very important	Not at all important
Take a break when you need one, or as soon as possible due to business needs.	Take a break when you need one, or as soon as possible due to business needs. Extremely important	Take a break when you need one, or as soon as possible due to business needs. Very important	Take a break when you need one, or as soon as possible due to business needs. Moderately important	Take a break when you need one, or as soon as possible due to business needs. Not very important	Take a break when you need one, or as soon as possible due to business needs. Not at all important
Let us know when you are struggling, we can step in for you.	Let us know when you are struggling, we can step in for you. Extremely important	Let us know when you are struggling, we can step in for you. Very important	Let us know when you are struggling, we can step in for you. Moderately important	Let us know when you are struggling, we can step in for you. Not very important	Let us know when you are struggling, we can step in for you. Not at all important
We care about who you are/what you are going through outside of work.	We care about who you are/what you are going through outside of work. Extremely important	We care about who you are/what you are going through outside of work. Very important	We care about who you are/what you are going through outside of work. Moderately important	We care about who you are/what you are going through outside of work. Not very important	We care about who you are/what you are going through outside of work. Not at all important
We care about the goals you have as a professional.	We care about the goals you have as a professional. Extremely important	We care about the goals you have as a professional. Very important	We care about the goals you have as a professional. Moderately important	We care about the goals you have as a professional. Not very important	We care about the goals you have as a professional. Not at all important
You are not alone.	You are not alone. Extremely important	You are not alone. Very important	You are not alone. Moderately important	You are not alone. Not very important	You are not alone. Not at all important
If you are struggling, help is available.	If you are struggling, help is available. Extremely important	If you are struggling, help is available. Very important	If you are struggling, help is available. Moderately important	If you are struggling, help is available. Not very important	If you are struggling, help is available. Not at all important
We’re available if you need to talk.	We’re available if you need to talk. Extremely important	We’re available if you need to talk. Very important	We’re available if you need to talk. Moderately important	We’re available if you need to talk. Not very important	We’re available if you need to talk. Not at all important
We are open to your feedback on how we can best support you.	We are open to your feedback on how we can best support you. Extremely important	We are open to your feedback on how we can best support you. Very important	We are open to your feedback on how we can best support you. Moderately important	We are open to your feedback on how we can best support you. Not very important	We are open to your feedback on how we can best support you. Not at all important

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* In your workplace, what is the easiest way for you to get information about mental health and wellness resources available to you? (Check all that apply.)

Posters on the wall in staff spaces

Tear off pads of paper on walls or surfaces

During training process

Employee manual

Occasional training sessions

Monthly communication from management

Individual conversations with your manager(s)

Group conversation with your manager(s)

Team discussions during stand-ups / staff meetings

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* What else would you like to share about how the mental health culture at your current or former workplaces can be improved? Do you have any ideas that hospitality employers can put into place?

Question Title

* OPTIONAL: If you are willing to speak with Active Minds and/or Optum staff further about your ideas, opinions, and experiences, please leave your name and email address.

Name

Email Address