Nearly half of hospitality employees struggle at work due to their mental health
07 September 2026
Hospitality employees struggle with mental health
Nearly half (48%) of hospitality employees say they are struggling at work due to their mental health, according to new research from Vitality, while almost one in four (24%) rate their mental health as poor over the past six months.
The research also suggests hospitality workers may be among the most vulnerable to burnout, with almost one in five (18%) reporting frequent burnout in the past year.
The findings reflect the unique demands many hospitality employees face. Long hours, physically demanding roles and the expectation to consistently deliver positive customer experiences can create both physical and emotional pressures. Together, these demands can help explain why stress, poor mental health and burnout are proving such persistent challenges across the sector.
However, despite this clear risk, Vitality’s findings suggest some employees may be reluctant to raise health concerns at work, as less than half (48%) of hospitality employees feel comfortable raising mental health concerns at work, compared with 57% of UK employees overall.
The data suggests that while just over half of hospitality employers have invested in formal health and wellbeing initiatives, there remains a disconnect between support offered and how it is experienced by employees. Something many in the sector don’t expect to change as only a third (31%) feel confident that their employer will improve its approach to health and wellbeing support in the next 12 months, significantly below the national average of 48%.
Gary Impett, Director of Corporate, VitalityHealth, said "Hospitality is one of the UK's most people-focused industries, but our research suggests many employees are facing significant pressures without feeling fully supported. Long hours, physically demanding roles and the expectation to consistently deliver positive customer experiences can all place additional demands on wellbeing. The findings highlight a clear opportunity for employers to create environments where employees feel comfortable speaking up about health concerns and can access support that meets their needs. Getting this right matters not only for employee wellbeing, but also for engagement, retention and productivity."
Notes to Editors:
Research was conducted by Opinium between 12 and 22 June among 1,000 employees of all seniority levels.