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Striking a work-life balance in hospitality

Most employers want the best for their staff and we all know how important a good work-life balance is for mental and physical wellbeing. But when it feels like you have to choose between looking after your staff, and running a successful business, it can be a little bit less clear cut. That’s why the hospitality industry has a reputation for being so demanding. Long hours, late nights, and the constant demands of service often take their toll on employees. 

The thing is, work-life balance in hospitality isn’t just about being nice to your staff, it’s what keeps your team motivated, engaged, and ready to give their best to every customer who walks through your doors. But getting it right is no small task, especially when you’re juggling tight budgets, staff shortages, and an unpredictable industry. 

At Access Hospitality, we work closely with hospitality businesses across the UK and Ireland who understand that staff wellbeing isn’t just for the benefit of their employees, it also has a huge impact on their success.

In this article, we’ll take a look at what work-life balance really looks like in this industry, why it’s so challenging to achieve, and how you can make changes that not only support your staff, but also protect your business.

Posted 17/12/2024

Striking a Work-Life Balance in Hospitality

Challenges to work-life balance in hospitality

If you’ve ever worked a double shift or managed a rota during peak season, you know how relentless hospitality can sometimes be. The industry thrives on energy and connection, but the pace and demands often make it difficult for staff to find time for anything else. For both staff and managers, the challenges to achieving work-life balance can be exhausting.

The slow drain of enthusiasm

It starts with small things - missing a family dinner here, skipping a weekend off there. Before long, it’s hard to tell where work ends and personal life begins. Bar staff might find themselves clocking out late at the end of their shifts, or managers might find that last-minute absences and unexpected supplier issues are keeping them awake at night.

No team is immune to burnout, and when it sets in, productivity can dip, tempers start to fray, and dedicated staff start to question how much longer they can keep doing this. Burnout doesn’t just make people tired, it makes them mentally check out.

Keeping your best people

Hospitality has a reputation for high staff turnover, and it’s easy to see why. When employees feel undervalued, overworked, or stuck in roles that aren’t offering progression, they move on. For managers, this can feel like an endless cycle of recruiting and training new hires, only to see them leave just as they’re hitting their stride.

But losing good people doesn’t just hurt operations; it hits morale, too. The rest of your team has to manage the shortfall, covering extra shifts and facing the uncertainty of constant change.

The invisible toll

The unpredictable nature of hospitality work includes last-minute rota changes, late nights, and busy weekends. All of this can make it tough for staff to maintain any kind of personal life. Birthdays are missed, holidays are postponed, and even a quiet evening at home can feel like a luxury.

Don’t underestimate how much of an effect this can have. People might seem fine on the surface, but be battling stress, anxiety, or feelings of isolation beneath their smiles. And when mental health suffers, so does everything else.

The bigger picture

One stressed,overworked staff member can have a domino effect on your whole business. When your team is overworked and stretched thin, service inevitably takes a hit. Your guests will start to notice small slips in quality, and over time those small things add up. The last thing you want is for customers to look elsewhere simply because your team didn’t have the support they needed.

It’s not as bleak as it might seem, though. Hospitality can be a fantastic place to work; it’s just down to how you approach these challenges.

5 practical steps to improve work-life balance in hospitality

Improving work-life balance for your team doesn’t have to be complicated. Small, thoughtful changes can have a big impact, helping your staff feel valued and supported while keeping your business running smoothly. 

1. Make scheduling fairer and easier

Rotas can often be a source of stress for your team. If shifts feel uneven or last-minute changes are the norm, it can leave staff feeling frustrated and undervalued. Scheduling tools like rota software can simplify the process, helping you build schedules that work for everyone.

2. Create a culture of wellbeing

Wellbeing isn’t just about perks; it’s about showing your team that their mental and physical health matter to you. This could mean offering access to mental health resources, providing spaces for staff to decompress, or running workshops on managing stress and building resilience.

3. Offer clear opportunities for growth

When employees see a future with your business, they’re more likely to stay. Investing in their professional development through things like leadership training, certifications, or niche skills can show them how much you value them.

4. Encourage breaks and downtime

It’s easy for staff to skip breaks during busy services, but it’s not sustainable. Encouraging regular breaks helps your team recharge and prevents fatigue. Adding small incentives like free meals can also help reinforce the importance of downtime.

5. Keep the conversation going

Your team won’t always come to you with their concerns, so if you want to know what’s going on and how they’re doing, it’s going to be up to you to ask. Scheduling regular one-on-ones or providing anonymous feedback channels can help you identify and address issues before they become bigger problems.

Achieving balance and engagement with Access Hospitality

Finding the right balance between supporting your team and running a successful and efficient business isn’t easy. The day-to-day demands of hospitality can make it hard to prioritise work-life balance, even when you know it’s important. We know it’s hard, and that's why we’ve developed a suite of tools that make it a little easier. Tools like CPL Learning and Rotaready can help you take some of the pressure off while still giving your team the support they need.

Enhancing skills and well-being

When your staff are well equipped to handle the demands of their role, everything works a little better. Our learning management system for hospitality CPL Learning isn’t just about compliance, it’s about giving your team the tools to thrive. By offering flexible, on-demand training, CPL helps your staff build confidence and resilience without disrupting their schedules. 

  • Stress management and resilience training: Help staff tackle burnout with courses that equip them to handle the pressures of hospitality life. This supports both mental health and long-term engagement.

  • Leadership development: Create clear growth opportunities with training for supervisory or management roles, helping to improve retention and morale.

  • Mobile access to learning: Whether they’re on a break or commuting, staff can upskill at their convenience, making professional growth more accessible and manageable.

By providing practical tools and accessible training, CPL Learning helps your team to feel supported, capable, and ready to succeed.

Simplifying scheduling

Rotas are often the biggest headache for hospitality teams, but our hospitality scheduling and rota software Rotaready transforms scheduling into a seamless process. Its smart features give managers and staff alike more control to create a fairer work environment.

  • Smart rota planning: Build rotas automatically based on real demand, ensuring the right number of staff for every shift while reducing the manual workload.

  • Time & attendance tracking: Staff can clock in and out via an app or in-store tablet, making attendance management seamless and accurate.

  • Employee self-service: Give your team more control by letting them manage availability, swap shifts, or request time off directly through the app.

With Rotaready, scheduling becomes simpler and fairer, helping your team find balance while keeping operations running smoothly.

Ready to improve your team’s wellbeing with help from Access?

Creating a great work-life balance in hospitality isn’t easy—unsociable hours, shift work, and the pace of the industry can make it feel out of reach. But as we’ve seen, the benefits are undeniable. When your team feels valued and supported, you’ll see the difference in their morale, their loyalty, and your business’s success.

In this article, we’ve looked at the challenges hospitality businesses face, shared actionable strategies to improve work-life balance, and highlighted how tools like CPL Learning and Rotaready can help you make a real impact.

What’s next?

If you’re ready to take the first step toward a healthier, more engaged workplace, explore our solutions: CPL Learning and Roaready.