According to the survey, almost half of respondents say they have a poor work/life balance and of those almost two in three (62%) junior hospitality employees say burnout is just part of the job.

Among those citing a poor work/life balance and experiencing burnout as a daily reality, three in five (61%) reported experiencing a mental health issue in the past year.

When asked to identify the top three workplace challenges affecting their wellbeing, under-resourcing and understaffing emerged as the primary issue, cited by 57% of respondents - a 21% increase compared to 2024.

High expectations and excessive workloads followed at 52% (up from 43%), whilst work/life balance concerns were raised by 50% (up from 45%). Mental health is now cited as the third most common reason for absence from work.

Although two-thirds (66%) agree that their workplace has created a working environment where mental health can be openly discussed, there remains a concerning ‘lost third’ for whom there is no clear support.

Three-quarters of respondents (78%) now feel more comfortable compared to five years ago discussing a mental health concern - a 21% rise compared to five years ago – positively indicating that stigma around the issue is decreasing.

Mark Lewis, chief executive at Hospitality Action, said: “In many respects, these findings tell a tale of two halves. On the one hand, we must applaud the industry for its concerted efforts and investment to support the mental health and wellbeing of our colleagues.

“There’s still work to be done, as proven by the record number of calls to our helpline this year, with the vast majority citing mental health issues. It’s clear that there remains a significant gap between policy and practice, with a disconnect between what employers believe they are delivering, and what employees actually experience.

“Whatever good is being done, the negative factors continue to outweigh. With 69,000 jobs lost since the National Insurance hikes in April the pressure on those remaining is already evident, and safeguarding the wellbeing of our remaining workforce has never been more vital.”

To review the key findings and request a copy of the full survey results report, click here.