why healthy workplace cultures matter in the heady world of hospitality.
Hospitality is captivating. The environments, the experiences, the people. It’s a heady mix, full of energy and passion. But beneath the excitement, the industry can sometimes undermine employee wellbeing.
Creating a positive, healthy workplace culture goes beyond moral duty, it’s a commercial priority. Candidates increasingly choose environments where they feel supported, making wellbeing a pillar of business success. A toxic workplace culture breeds underperformance, increased sickness and attrition rates, and even addiction and mental health challenges. The ripple effect is far-reaching, impacting hiring, customer experience, and brand reputation.
Investing in workplace culture isn't just about crisis management. It’s about proactively shaping a space where employees feel valued, heard, and encouraged to develop healthy habits. One way to do this is by equipping teams with the tools and insights needed to support wellbeing. Mental health training, open communication, a robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and top-down advocacy of healthy behaviours are all key components.
As a talent partner to some of hospitality’s most impressive businesses, supporting wellbeing is central to our values at mum. That’s why we work closely with Kelly’s Cause; a charity dedicated to improving mental health in hospitality. Through Mental Health First Aid training, policy consultation, and awareness initiatives, Kelly’s Cause empowers businesses and individuals with the knowledge to make a meaningful impact.
As part of our support, mum partnered with Kelly’s Cause for a second year running to host an interactive event for people leaders: Brewing Strength: Fostering community and connection in the workplace. We brought together over 50 hospitality professionals to explore practical strategies for workplace wellbeing.
The event opened with a moving keynote from chef and author Sabrina Gidda, who shared how she harnessed grief over the loss of her mother into an energy that fuelled her growth. It was a personal insight into the impact of bereavement, and how when people are given the space and time to grieve, this can be a catalyst for renewal and even innovation. In Sabrina’s case, it was the creation of her wonderful book ‘Modern South Asian Kitchen: Recipes and Stories Celebrating Culture and Community’.
Then came two bite-sized workshops, providing practical tools for building resilience in hospitality:
Finding Your Recovery Position, hosted by Merly Kammerling from Well & Being: This vibrant session reconnected us with movement, breath, and emotional regulation. On our feet, shaking it out to Fred again (adore u), we felt uplifted as Merly shared simple yet powerful techniques to help ourselves and our teams navigate stress and build resilience.
Substance Misuse in Hospitality, led by Arron Smallman from Let’s Push Things Forward: This eye-opening session explored addiction in the industry, how to recognise signs, initiate open conversations, stage interventions, and create workplace cultures that discourage harmful behaviours.
Taking time away from the daily demands of hospitality can feel like a challenge, but stepping back to reflect, learn, and equip ourselves with tools to support our teams is an investment in both people and business success.