From Burn - Out to Bliss: How to Reduce Stress Levels at Work

In the fast-paced world of the hospitality industry, stress is an ever-present challenge. As a manager or business owner, it is essential to prioritise the well-being of your team and create a positive work environment. Reducing stress levels at work needn’t be expensive or overly time consuming, simple adaptations to your working environment or management style can make a huge difference.

Foster Open Communication

One of the fundamental steps in reducing stress levels is establishing open lines of communication. Encourage your employees to share their concerns, ideas, and challenges without fear can serve as platforms for employees to express themselves and create a sense of belonging, reducing their stress levels.

Reduce Uncertainty And Ambiguity

Clearly communicate expectations, responsibilities, it

of judgment or retribution.

By actively listening to their needs, you can address potential stressors and find collaborative solutions.

Cultivate A Supportive Work Culture

Emphasise teamwork, empathy, and mutual respect among employees, especially younger team members who can learn from those with more experience. Regular team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, and anonymous suggestion boxes and goals to your employees, ensuring they have a solid understanding of their role within the team. Establish realistic workloads and deadlines to prevent the overwhelming feeling of being constantly swamped.

ENCOURAGE A WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Encourage your employees to prioritise self-care and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Offer flexible scheduling options when possible, allowing them to manage personal commitments and take time for rest and relaxation. Make sure employees book and use their holiday allowance throughout the year to get regular time off, rather than opting to carry it over or get paid for the days they don’t take.

Encourage Breaks

Give your team a relaxing space within which they can take a break – it doesn’t have to be a big space, but it does need to be clean, comfortable and quiet, containing adequate facilities for people to make drinks, store or re-heat food and eat at a table. Try to ensure that breaks are undisturbed time, so that employees don’t get drawn back into work when they should be relaxing.

Offer Workshops Or Training

Introduce sessions focused on stress reduction techniques, such as mindfulness, deep breathing exercises, and time management skills. Provide resources like meditation apps, stress reduction literature, or access to counselling services if needed.

Recognise Your Employee Contributions

Acknowledging and appreciating your employees’ hard work is vital in reducing stress levels. Celebrate milestones and successes as a team to foster a positive and motivating atmosphere. When employees feel valued and appreciated, they experience a boost in selfconfidence and motivation, leading to reduced stress levels and increased job satisfaction.

Encourage Opportunities For Growth

Empower employees by delegating responsibilities and giving them autonomy in decision-making processes. Encourage professional development with training programs or mentorship initiatives to enhance job satisfaction, reduce stress associated with micromanagement and promote a sense of personal achievement.

Offer Perks

This may take the form of free food on a long shift, a team event every quarter or a bonus for achieving specific team goals – the important thing is to ensure your staff know their efforts are recognised and that your business cares and appreciates their input.