Health & Hospitality

HEALTH & HOSPITALITY HEALTH & Hospitality

SELF-CARE BEHIND THE BAR

In light of COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to hit the reset button.

Substance abuse. Depression. Insomnia. Harrassment. Anxiety. Suicide.

These are the keywords often found within the bar industry, leading to a variety of mental and physical health issues among employees. Just how bad is it?

A recent study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ranked this industry the highest for illicit drug use and the third highest for heavy alcohol consumption.

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology revealed that tipped workers are at greater risk of depression, insomnia, and high levels of stress.

Where does the fault lie? It starts with developing a winning culture.

To this day, the industry is still plagued by harassment, unbalanced shifts, minimal pay, overworked employees, closed doors, and toxic environments.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no better time for this industry to

BY DOUG RADKEY

hit the reset button. As a leader, you need to develop a workplace that is transparent, accommodating, engaged, and secure, which leads to positive self-care for everyone involved with your brand.

This should be followed by the development of a set of core values and a visible code of conduct placed throughout the bar. You need to create new standards, policies, communication channels, and “buy-in” from each staff member.

That’s the foundation of culture.

You need to then create positive life experiences for your staff (management included). Post-pandemic, it’s time to think outside the box and create team experiences such as developing a fitness or running club that meets after each shift as opposed to going out for drinks.

While a bump in employees’ paychecks would be a welcome sight, the mindset also needs to be that the job is more than a paycheck. The workplace is, after all, where most spend 24-36% of their life, which is more than what the average person may see of their own family.

By showing empathy, helping those in need, and coming together as a team in a positive atmosphere, you can overcome these challenges starting now.

Remember, you don’t build a business. You build people and those people build your business. No matter how large or small your budget, any bar can benefit from going above and beyond to take great care of their staff.

With the right culture and leadership, we as an industry can begin to eliminate the disturbing realities.

Doug Radkey is founder and president of KRG Hospitality Inc. and author of the book Bar Hacks. Radkey’s brand has proven success in a variety of markets within Canada, the U.S., and abroad by being a creative agency focused on planning, development, and support for independent restaurants and bars. Visit krghospitality. com or find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @KRGHospitality.