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Hospitality workers are experiencing poor personal health due to the stress of their job role, according to a survey by music licensing company PPL PRS. 

Out of more than 350 workers surveyed, 45% reported an inability to relax and 44% stated they had feelings of anxiety. Workers’ poor health even manifests itself when it’s time to rest as 43% have reported suffering with sleep problems.

The survey also found that a worrying 100% of hospitality workers have had, at some point, experience with feeling burned out – the result of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion from unmanaged workplace stress.

Workers also reported that the stress of their job role has left them with feelings of frustration (47%), lack of motivation (45%) and feeling as though small things are overwhelming (38%).

Despite the concerning findings, PPL PRS’ survey found that hospitality workers are making a conscious effort to combat the effects of unmanaged workplace stress.

Music was cited as the number one choice by over a third of respondents (38%). Other go-to methods include prioritising rest (28%) and spending time with friends and family (26%).

Marianne Rizkallah, music therapist for PPL PRS, explains why music can help alleviate unmanaged stress in the workplace.

She says, “It’s no secret that music is the key to helping many of us unlock our productivity and feel more focused. It can also help us when we’re feeling unmotivated, stuck, or stressed.

“In the workplace, we don’t often consider the soundtrack we have and will usually be so focused on tasks that music blends into the background. Yet considering how music can leave us feeling positive, less stressed and happier, it’s no wonder that the music we hear at work should also be doing that too.

“A silent workplace can seem intimidating, making it harder for people to speak up or to ask for help. Equally, working with an intense soundtrack can be distracting and hard for concentration, so it’s important to find a happy medium. This might involve letting employees take turns in what is played or agreeing on a calm playlist that makes the workplace a productive place to be.”

Sam Haggar, Founder and MD at The Beautiful Pubs Collective in Leicester, says:

“From a passion to meet guest expectations to the continuous hours of multitasking, the hospitality industry—while rewarding—can also be a high-pressure environment to work in. When teams start to feel the pinch, short-term relief such as playing upbeat and positive music can help everyone reset.

In the long term, it is essential for hospitality leaders to build values-driven businesses where teams feel confident and safe to speak up when stress levels are rising. Without proper support, pressure can quickly become a negative cycle, so recognising the signs early and acting on concerns raised by team members leads to meaningful improvements in both wellbeing and performance.“

Leadership coach Debbie Green explains how employers can keep unmanaged stress in the workplace in check as she says:

“Staff that are burned out, stressed out or anxious at work aren’t going to be producing their best, and this can have a huge impact on a business as well as the rest of the staff.

“As an employer, it’s important to lead by example and to set boundaries for your staff for clear balance. This is particularly useful for younger employees who might be keen to show their best side and not realise the impact of staying late or doing more than their hours.

“It’s also important to consider how important praise can be and ensure that good work is seen to be rewarded. Regularly acknowledging hard work, great results, or even just brilliant moments when a team has worked together and supported each other can make it clear that work is a positive place to be.”