Thursday 9 September is R U OK? Day and with hospitality workers and suppliers under so much pressure right now, there has never been a better time to check in on your hospitality family.
The theme for this year’s R U OK? Day is ‘Are they really OK? Ask them today’ and aims to encourage people in the industry, and beyond, to consider that people might really need to talk and to offer support where it’s needed.
R U OK? CEO Katherine Newton, said: “The work environment for people in the hospitality industry – from a one-person coffee cart to a hotel chain – often holds some unique financial, social and emotional stresses. It could be the fast-paced nature of the job, the isolation of shift work or struggling to manage due to casual rosters.
“In an industry like this, added external pressures can have a financial and emotional impact. This has become more acute with the added disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While the majority of hospitality workers say that they feel accepted and have close bonds with family/ friends, concerningly about one-third feel isolated and disconnected.
“In relation to the impact in the workplace, there is an increased need for employers to implement support systems and promote an ‘R U OK?’ culture.”
R U OK has developed a hospitality specific ‘Mateship Manual’ with industry representatives, which gives guidance on how to reach out to someone and how to offer meaningful support.
The free resource highlights the powerful role colleagues and loved ones can play in supporting each other including information on how to spot the signs that someone might be struggling, with a step-by-step guide on how to start the conversation and what to say if someone replies “NO, I’m not OK.”
Download the free resources including the ‘Guide to supporting R U OK?Day’ as well as the R U OK? Hospitality Mateship Manual.
For support at any time of day or night, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.