I think it is a well known fact that hospitality is a particularly hard trade to be part of. This is mostly due to the long hours, hard working terms and lots of time away from your friends and family and taking part in very little or no social activities. This can include missing out on time and special events like Christmas or special birthdays. The industry has so many rewards including doing something you love which is something I am hugely passionate about, but these hard-working conditions can take its toll on your health and most importantly your mental health. I have been reading this week, some interesting articles about mental health in hospitality. In the UK, more than 10 million work days are lost to stress, depression, and anxiety each year and with hospitality making up a huge part of the UK economy some part of this must be affecting the industry.
I think now more than ever mental health is more talked about and less a topic that is taboo. This has brought where mental health’s standing light-years forward with social media implementing different campaigns such as #itsoktonotbeok and this is endorsed by many celebrities too. But I think what is important is the way we can be dealing with stress, depression and anxiety in the work place and are there ways we can make this easier on employees and ways establishments can make up for the time lost with friends and family such as inviting them to social events put on by establishments, time back in lieu, one weekend off a month or overtime.
However, the idea of stress in a kitchen or being a chef being a high-pressured job is not really a new idea and with the media almost glamorising the industry with movies about fast paced kitchens and celebrity chefs it can be misconstrued for what it is which is a really hard but rewarding industry to be part of.
Because of this high pressure the chef world is faced with addiction such as drugs, gambling and alcohol and some are resorting to even using these as ways to get through hard shifts. There is also the mentality which is becoming less and less I hope which is the aggressive temperament towards the junior or newer members of the team which would constitute as bulling or even assault in most work places but as part of our industry is just part of the job.
So the question, is being a chef bad for your mental health? Is there any way we can implement innovative ideas and come away from the prehistoric ideas that behaving or putting this pressure on staff is acceptable and how can we stop this from happening?
Jessica
We have access to the internet in our new office, our phone lines are not quiet up and running just yet.
Feel free to drop us an email and we can respond or PM us on facebook.
Email - admin@chefsinscotland.co.uk
That's our phones now switched over you will now be able to reach us on 01683 221367 until 2.30pm today
Another month nearly over
We have 63 relief chefs out working all over Scotland
1 week today until we start to pack up Sunnybrae and move to Well Street, we are all very excited about the move and hoping everything goes to plan.
Lots of interviews being arranged and have taken place this week.
If you are a relief chef with availability please get in touch or if you are looking to register please email over your updated CV with contactable work references to jojo@chefsinscotland.co.uk
Out and about just now
Steve Moffat is over in Bute at the Victoria Hotel
Grant Marshall is at The Moorings Hotel in Fort William
Robin Mccrindle is at Cringletie House Hotel in the Borders
Graham Smith is a Y Not in Thurso
Tom Morris is at Go Glasgow Urban Hotel
Kevin MacAngus is at the Garth Hotel in Grantown on Spey
Sebastian Luszczynski is at The Old Manor Hotel in fife
Michael George is also in Bute at the Glenburn hotel
Chris Roberti is at Fife Arms Hotel in turriff
Alan Baird and glyn Musker are at The Bothy Bistro in Burghead
Taylor Macfarlane and Jim Miller are at the Walled Garden Café at Gordon Castle in Fochabers
Lillian Clarkson is at Kyleakin Quarry in Skye
Thanks everyone for all your hard work – nice to get excellent feed back forms back 😊
We have 63 relief chefs out working with 15 booked so far this week.
28 adverts and 7 permanent for the week.
There have been a few more front of house positions being registered.
Jessica is still on annual leave and will be back to work on Wednesday.
Michael and Tom are doing lots of searches on Head, Sous, Chef de Partie and Commis Chef positions with lots of CV’s being sent out and plenty interviews being arranged which will lead to more permanent placements.
Tom has also been busy bottling up more brew and will do some more test batches next week.
Out at the moment
Trevor Williams is at Murray Arms Hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet
Mick Kitson is at Onich Hotel in Lochaber
David Bedo is at Skeabost Hotel in Skye
Jonny Lewis is also in Skye at Bakur Bar
Jason Paxton is at The Old mill Inn in Pitlochry
Gareth Connolly is at The Village Hotel in Aberdeen
David Young is at The Popinjay Hotel in Carluke
Richard Clark was at Glenesk Hotel and is starting at The Whitehorse Inn in Balmedie
Ionel Rizea is at Eddrachillies Hotel near Scourie
Keren Tweedie is at Boat House Bistro in Lochaber
Michael Njoroge is at Drovers Inn near Loch Lomomd
Ross Hunter is at Pierhouse Hotel in Appin
Michal Modzen is at Whitmuir the Organic Place near Penicuik
James Obrien is at Deyn’s Deli in Berwick
Lillian Clarkson is at Kyleakin Quarry in Skye
Stephen Kessell is at Go Glasgow Hotel
Murray Tweddle is at Isles of Glencoe Hotel
Thanks All for all your hard work and continued support.
We have 63 relief chefs out working with 15 booked so far this week.
28 adverts and 7 permanent for the week.
There have been a few more front of house positions being registered.
Jessica is still on annual leave and will be back to work on Wednesday.
Michael and Tom are doing lots of searches on Head, Sous, Chef de Partie and Commis Chef positions with lots of CV’s being sent out and plenty interviews being arranged which will lead to more permanent placements.
Tom has also been busy bottling up more brew and will do some more test batches next week.
Out at the moment
Trevor Williams is at Murray Arms Hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet
Mick Kitson is at Onich Hotel in Lochaber
David Bedo is at Skeabost Hotel in Skye
Jonny Lewis is also in Skye at Bakur Bar
Jason Paxton is at The Old mill Inn in Pitlochry
Gareth Connolly is at The Village Hotel in Aberdeen
David Young is at The Popinjay Hotel in Carluke
Richard Clark was at Glenesk Hotel and is starting at The Whitehorse Inn in Balmedie
Ionel Rizea is at Eddrachillies Hotel near Scourie
Keren Tweedie is at Boat House Bistro in Lochaber
Michael Njoroge is at Drovers Inn near Loch Lomomd
Ross Hunter is at Pierhouse Hotel in Appin
Michal Modzen is at Whitmuir the Organic Place near Penicuik
James Obrien is at Deyn’s Deli in Berwick
Lillian Clarkson is at Kyleakin Quarry in Skye
Stephen Kessell is at Go Glasgow Hotel
Murray Tweddle is at Isles of Glencoe Hotel
Thanks All for all your hard work and continued support.
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