The risk of burnout within the workplace is high among hospitality workers. Stress during busy periods, the seemingly monotonous daily routine, and overcommitting can all be significant factors in why hospitality employees are so strongly at risk of burnout. As employers, we can be proactive in preventing this occurrence as much as possible. Such efforts might include offering flexible scheduling, providing mental health services to employees, and creating transparency between staff and management to foster clear communication.
On the employee side of things, how can burnout be prevented? While a lot of what contributes to burnout is external circumstances or factors beyond a worker’s control, there are a few strategies they can employ to further inhibit burning out.
Utilize Effective Time Management Strategies
One of the biggest contributors to burnout is ineffective time management. What that looks like can vary significantly, but might include taking on too many shifts. Most employees in the industry depend on a check weekly to support their household, so the attraction of picking up extra shifts is strong. While understandable, it’s important to think realistically about other commitments, how a job fits in among those, and how to best maximize the time you have (and want) to work while not overcommitting and risking burnout.
Creating a time management plan is a great strategy for anyone, no matter the industry in which they work. While some people prefer more sophisticated approaches to scheduling, like mobile applications or smart calendars, all that is needed to map out your days, weeks, etc. is a pen and paper. For those new to planning out their schedules, start with a smaller increment – like a week – to learn what works best for you.
Seek Out Opportunities for Growth
Much of the monotony that precedes burnout stems from doing the same tasks each shift, day after day. Strong team and organizational leaders work to prevent this by rotating tasks among team members and cross-training employees in multiple roles. For workers, pursuing opportunities for growth is a way to break free from any monotony that still exists at work. Not every hotel employee dreams of becoming a General Manager or other senior leadership position, However, finding and pursuing growth opportunities when you have the capacity to do so is a great deterrent to burnout.
These opportunities look different depending on the employee and organization they support. However, growth opportunities often include taking on additional responsibilities or seeking a promotion to a higher-level position. Management positions often come with a pay increase as well.
Learning new skills and information in any form stimulates the brain and adds variation to shifts, requiring more employee engagement – often preventing burnout in the process. One thing to note is to avoid over-committing to growth opportunities or new responsibilities. That can have the opposite effect and expedite the burnout process.
Communicate Effectively with Management & Colleagues
This last tip requires commitment from both employers and employees as communication is a two-way street. Most instances of burnout could have been prevented or at least partially avoided had there been strong communication channels in place. It’s critical that employers create intentional space for staff to provide feedback, ask questions, and voice concerns. It is equally as important that employees utilize that space and voice their comments, questions, and concerns. Management cannot make changes or provide additional support without knowing the issues their team might be facing.
Along with management, it’s important to communicate effectively with other individuals on the hotel or department team. Hospitality is an industry where employees support each other. When teams communicate well with each other, they can identify times when an individual needs additional support. Everyone within a hotel is working towards the same goal of providing a quality guest experience. When individuals struggle, it’s in the best interest of others around them to lift them up.
Finding a Supportive Employer in the Hotel Industry
No matter how many tactics employees implement, burnout is almost inevitable if employers don’t also take steps to ensure their employees remain fulfilled, challenged, and supported. During the application and interview process for jobs in hospitality, there are a few things a candidate should look for to determine if this is an environment where they can thrive.
Clear and comprehensive job descriptions are critical for applicants to fully understand the expectations in a particular role. Going back to clear communication, having an accurate understanding of the duties and responsibilities of a position prior to accepting the job is a critical first step in preventing burnout due to unclear expectations. If there is anything unclear in a job description, it’s smart to be prepared with relevant questions heading into an interview to gain clarity.
Also, look for employers who explicitly prioritize the employee experience as much as the guest experience. With over 50 locations across the country, we remain committed to empowering employees to grow within the organization and industry. Offering extensive training programs, opportunities to grow, and leadership committed to preventing burnout among their team by fostering a supportive environment and strong employee relations.
Our locations nationwide are looking to fill critical positions on those teams, and we’ve gathered all those opportunities in our comprehensive hotel jobs database. There are options for those with no hotel experience as well as management positions for industry veterans. If you’re looking for empowerment and support from your next hotel employer, we encourage you to see what opportunities await!