A therapist on board: could this be the new perk for restaurant staff?
A manager admonishing an employee and saying “leave your baggage at the door when you come to work”, is something many of us have heard at some time or another during our work life. That’s easier said than done, because many people really cannot do that. Hard as it was before COVID-19, things have gone from bad to worse during the pandemic. Not only have employees endured more than twenty four months of coronavirus risk but have or continue to also face the prospect of losing their jobs. Additionally, for those working in the hospitality industry – particularly in restaurants, bad customer behaviour has emotionally exacerbated an already unhealthy situation.
Working in the restaurant industry can be extremely challenging. The environment marinades a culture that demands employees to be on their feet and doing their service - all the time keeping a tight lid on their emotions, which even if it comes to the boil can only be released or handled elsewhere. Even those at the top of their game, like Chef Anthony Bourdain who died by suicide in 2018, can succumb to the enormous pressures it can exert on one’s mental health.
When Denver-based Bonanno Concepts, which has 10 restaurants, found it hard to recruit staff in 2021, the owner (and chef) Frank Bonanno rolled out a survey to discover what counted the most for employees and what they expected above all, from their employee? What emerged was somewhat of a surprise. Mental health support was at the top of the list, followed by job security, with pay increase slotting in at No.3.
Frank Bonanno believed the organisations health insurance plan was a good one. Nevertheless, the findings of the survey made him delve deeper, where he found that employees seeking psychologists and psychiatrists’ treatment had to pay for the consultations out-of-pocket. This prompted the company to look for a way to make their employees happy, and that’s when they hit upon the idea of recruiting a full-time wellness director.
Many hotels do have this position in their ranks – but it is solely to serve the interests of the guests. The closest to looking after the health of the employees whilst at work, are the hotel staff clinics with a nurse in attendance.
Qiana Torres Flores, who happened to see the LinkedIn job ad posted by Bonanno Concepts was intrigued and after reading the job description, which she describes as “blew my mind” grabbed the opportunity and joined the company last September. Her immediate task was to develop a wellness programme to make mental health care approachable and accessible to the restaurant staff – where everyone from the dishwasher to the executive chef can book a one-to-one counseling session with her.
In addition, she puts to good use her yoga instructor certification by leading groups from amongst the 400 employees on mindfulness sessions, as well as stretching exercises to alleviate pain and prevent injury whilst at work.
A server who joined French 75, one of Bonanno’s restaurants, Nikki Perri says she was impressed when told of the therapy benefits in interviews, decided to join Bonanno Concepts last November. Accustomed to low wages and zero benefits during her previous six years of work in the industry, Perri says having Flores as a staff resource makes her feel her employer is “invested in us not only as employees, but also as human beings, I hope more people hop on this”.
I hope so too!
Shafeek Wahab – Editor, Hospitality Sri Lanka, Consultant, Trainer, Ex-Hotelier
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