{"id":28433,"date":"2023-01-20T12:13:56","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T17:13:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/?p=28433"},"modified":"2026-02-12T11:57:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T16:57:47","slug":"staff-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/ideas\/staff-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep Calm & Consider Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Helping stressed-out employees helps them… and your business.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ask restaurant operators to list staff health concerns, and cut fingers, oil splatter burns, sore feet, aching backs and fatigue come to mind. Mental health is often overlooked because, well, it doesn\u2019t stick out like a sore thumb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The daily restaurant grind is stressful enough. Worker shortages and short-tempered customers take an extra toll. Ultimately, employee mental well-being affects everyone, and addressing staff mental health can improve their lives and your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working through physical pain earns rock-star praise \u2014 emergency room in the morning, back at work by afternoon. Mental health issues get whispers and sidelong glances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have a stigma to overcome,\u201d Erin Boyle said. \u201cMental health is just as important as physical health. If you are struggling with anxiety, depression or PTSD, that\u2019s going to have a physical impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019s the executive director of CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach and Wellness), and she has seen how mental health challenges can hurt morale, amplify conflict, create unsafe situations, increase absenteeism and cause turnover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daily Check-Ins, Team Support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The opposite of absenteeism is presenteeism, in which a staffer shows up but doesn\u2019t perform effectively. It can signal mental health troubles and create stress for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daily check-ins help managers engage with staffers. Start-of-shift or pre-meal meetings are an opportunity to ask about problems or notice changes in appearance or attitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t assume a happy face means a happy person,\u201d said Sara Patterson, Gordon Food Service Canada National Human Resources Manager. \u201cAsk the questions, \u2018How are you?\u2019 and \u2018How\u2019s your stress level?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, a healthy workplace takes a village. Managers are busy. They can explain policies, procedures and ways to seek help, but they may miss early signs of mental health concerns. That\u2019s why Boyle encourages empowering the entire team to support one another with an \u201cif you see something, say something\u201d mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leave Therapy to the Pros<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Managers are encouraged to watch for mental health concerns, but not to be a therapist. In fact, laws prohibit managers from asking some medical and health questions. They can, however, make observations. That\u2019s a good way to check in on employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA manager should look for a change in behaviour or attitude,\u201d Patterson said. \u201cMake it very conversational \u2013 \u2018Is there anything you want to talk about?\u2019 \u2018How is your family?\u2019 questions build a personal connection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If someone\u2019s in obvious stress, Patterson says you can refer them to HR or a crisis hotline. A referral or a phone call can save someone\u2019s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boyle agrees, citing advice from the I Got Your Back Project in California<\/a>: \u201cIf someone discloses they are suicidal, ask them, \u2018Can I call the crisis line with you?\u2019 Do all the steps in front of them and then say to the person who answers, \u2018We just want to know how this whole crisis line works.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This process shows care and concern, plus it opens an avenue for help if an employee struggles outside of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find the Best Solution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finding help is easy. Plenty of places, such as Canada Life\u2019s Workplace Strategies for Mental Health, offer online mental health resources<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But mental health programs only work if your team wants it. \u201cIt would be a waste of money if all your employees want is an extra day off and a Hulu membership,\u201d Boyle said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your operation has an HR department, they can explain employee assistance programs or clinical therapy options, Patterson said. People also can call 988, the three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHOW offers a list of mental health resources<\/a> on its site, Boyle says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patterson also notes mental health tools are available through the Canadian Mental Health Association<\/a>, and people can call the nationwide 2-1-1 community hotline for referrals to health clinics, counseling and other personal assistance.       <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It adds up to improved staff health and a better bottom line. The World Health Organization explains that for every dollar spent on mental health, there is a $4 return in improved health and productivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, HR, or other professional advice.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Helping stressed-out employees helps them… and your business. Ask restaurant operators to list staff health concerns, and cut fingers, oil splatter burns, sore feet, aching backs and fatigue come to mind. Mental health is often overlooked because, well, it doesn\u2019t stick out like a sore thumb. The daily restaurant grind is stressful enough. Worker shortages […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":28434,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-running-your-business"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nKeep Calm & Consider Mental Health | Gordon Food Service<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Prioritize your team's well-being with expert advice on restaurant staff mental health. 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