Burnout in the hospitality industry: what is it and how to combat it?

Are you responsible for a team in the hospitality industry? Then you know that your teams may be prone to burnout.

The fast pace of the industry and the demands that the teams feel when working all day in front of the public, make them become practically actors 24 hours a day, giving their best in an environment under pressure and always with a big smile on their faces.

In this article we will provide you with effective strategies to detect in time the first signs of burnout and prevent it among your employees, so read on, because we will provide you with the keys to prevent your team from suffering burnout!

Burnout: what is it?  

Burnout Syndrome (burnout) is a type of work stress, a state of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion that has consequences on self-esteem and is characterized by a process by which people lose interest in their tasks, the sense of responsibility and can even reach deep depressions.

Burnout symptoms: how to detect it?

Burnout in the hospitality industry is quite common and can manifest itself in a variety of ways, so it is essential to recognize its main symptoms in order to address it in time. 

 Here are the most common "alarming" symptoms to watch out for:

Physical and emotional exhaustion:

Workers suffering from burnout often experience extreme exhaustion, both physically and emotionally. They feel constantly tired, no matter how much they rest, and that fatigue can be overwhelming. If we put ourselves in the shoes of a hotel's waiters, receptionists and floor workers, for example, we can imagine the hours a day they spend on their feet, or on the go. Hospitality workers often suffer from physical exhaustion due to long working hours and emotional exhaustion due to the constant pressure of serving customers and dealing with stressful situations.

2. Decreased work performance:

Lack of motivation and burnout can lead to decreased job performance. Workers may become less efficient at their tasks, make more mistakes, and experience difficulty staying focused on their responsibilities.

3. Emotional detachment:

Emotional detachment is a characteristic symptom of burnout. Teams may become indifferent towards their work or even towards customers. Empathy and patience diminish, which can negatively affect the quality of service and the customer experience.

4. Irritability and mood swings: 

Individuals experiencing burnout often show signs of irritability and sudden mood changes. They may become more negative, impatient and reactive to situations they previously managed calmly.

5. Loss of interest and commitment to work

Affected workers may lose interest in their work and the tasks they previously found rewarding. This loss of interest can lead to apathy and lack of commitment.

6. Physical and mental health problems: 

Burnout can also have negative effects and a major impact on physical and mental health. Workers may experience symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, anxiety, depression and other health problems related to chronic stress.

Recognizing these symptoms is the first step in addressing burnout in your team. Keep a close eye on your employees and, if you notice any of these signs, it is important to take steps to provide support and prevent further deterioration of their well-being.

Why does Burnout appear among public-facing workers?

Burnout in the hospitality industry can be triggered by a number of specific factors. Understanding these causes is essential to tackle the problem at its root. Below, we are going to explain to you the main reasons why burnout frequently manifests itself in this sector:

Excessive workload

The hospitality industry is notorious for its long and demanding working hours. Staff often work irregular shifts, weekends and holidays, and face unexpected work peaks. This workload can exhaust workers physically and emotionally.

2. Emotional demands when working customer-facing.

Dealing directly with customers, especially in stressful or difficult situations, can be emotionally draining. Hospitality workers often face complaints, demands and unpredictable situations that can lead to emotional exhaustion.As we said at the beginning of the article, these workers act as actors 24 hours a day, something very tiring and draining for them.

3. Lack of reward and recognition

Lack of adequate recognition and rewards can contribute to burnout. If workers do not feel that their work is valued, they are more likely to lose motivation and feel disillusioned. 

4. Stressful work environment

The constant pressure to provide exceptional service and maintain high standards can create a stressful work environment. Hospitality is known to be a high-stress industry, with a lot of change and some instability, which translates into a negative impact on workers' mental health.

5. Job insecurity and bad reputation of the company.

Job insecurity in the hospitality industry is a reality for many workers, especially in the off-season or in times of crisis. Constant preoccupation with job stability can contribute to burnout and burnout. In addition, a poor reputation will put off younger people in the industry.

"82% of Generation Z considers a company's reputation to be important when making career decisions." 

Deloitte's Gen Z And Millenial Survey

Understanding these causes is the first step in effectively addressing burnout in your team. By knowing the underlying triggers, you can implement specific strategies to prevent or reduce the impact of burnout on your frontline staff.

Strategies to prevent Burnout among your workers

Now that we know the symptoms and causes of burnout in the hospitality industry, it is essential to implement preventive measures. Here are effective strategies to prevent burnout from affecting your team of frontline workers. These strategies focus on the well-being and satisfaction of your employees:

1. Establish realistic workloads:

Ensure that work assignments and schedules are reasonable and feasible. Avoid overloading your staff and allow adequate break times.

2. Promote a healthy work environment: 

Create an environment that promotes collaboration, mutual support and open communication. A positive work environment can help reduce stress, improve job satisfaction and prevent burnout.

3. Offers recognition:

Recognize and reward the work of your employees. Celebrating achievements and providing recognition for a job well done can increase motivation and job satisfaction.

4. Provides good training:

Offer training and professional development opportunities so that your employees can improve their skills and feel that they are advancing in their careers.

5. Promotes labor flexibility: 

Allow some flexibility in scheduling and task management whenever possible. This gives your teams the ability to balance their work life with their personal life, and therefore helps them reduce levels of overload, burnout or stress. In addition, we are well aware that young talent in the industry is looking for these benefits: flexibility, training, recognition and work-life balance. 

6. Help them with emotional management: 

Offer programs or resources to help your employees deal with stress. These may include mindfulness sessions, counseling, coaching or wellness activities.

9. Conducts work climate surveys:

Regularly gather feedback from your employees through job satisfaction surveys. This will provide you with valuable information about how they feel at work and what areas need improvement. Implementing these prevention strategies can help you keep your team motivated, healthy and engaged, significantly reducing the risk of burnout.

The role of niikiis in Burnout prevention:

niikiis, the front office team management software, plays a key role in burnout prevention. Our software provides numerous benefits that help keep your staff not only productive, but also motivated and in good shape:

Automation of tasks:

niikiis automates routine tasks, freeing your workers from the monotonous workload and allowing them to focus on more meaningful activities and customer service.

2. Time saving:

By reducing the amount of time spent on administrative tasks, niikiis gives your employees more time to focus on quality customer interactions and personal development.

Increased stability:

The software provides your front-line teams with greater visibility and control over their schedule and tasks. This contributes to a sense of autonomy and well-being at work.

By automating tasks, you will be providing your teams with a tool that significantly reduces the risk of burnout in the hospitality industry. niikiis not only optimizes task management, but also contributes to the well-being of your team.