By Noah Rue, Contributor
It’s estimated that more than 110,000 restaurants and bars closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you already work in the industry, that statistic is absolutely heartbreaking. Many other food service establishments either had to close temporarily or change the way they do business.
If you own or manage a restaurant, you’ve probably been anxiously awaiting the time when it’s safe to reopen and bring your staff back (if you haven’t already). Unfortunately, we’re living in a different world right now. Things aren’t completely “back to normal.” Because of that, and thanks to the uncertainty the pandemic has caused, you’re undoubtedly going to face some stress when it comes time to reopen.
Working in a restaurant and managing others can be stressful enough. But, when you have to consider new rules and regulations, changing practices on a regular basis, and how to handle an influx of customers as the vaccine rollout continues, it’s even more stressful. So, how can you manage stress at work and make your mental health a priority?
Educate Yourself on Rules & Regulations
For a while, it might seem like the rules change every day. That’s largely due to the fact that every state is dealing with the pandemic a bit differently. Some have already gone mask-free while others still have strict rules. Staying up to date on best practices for yourself and your customers will help to keep everyone’s stress levels down. Some of the standard safety practices currently in place for many restaurants across the country include:
Mask wearing
Reduced capacity
Temperature checking upon arrival
Table spacing
No self-serve items
Protection and prevention are key right now. The last thing you want is for your establishment to contribute to an influx in positive COVID cases in your community. With that in mind, be prepared for changes in foot traffic as certain areas start to change restrictions.
For example: now that many of Florida’s restrictions have been lifted, people are out and about, many without masks. This year’s Spring Break in Miami was a perfect example of that, with thousands of tourists hitting the beach and local hot spots. You might be comfortable with a certain pace for a while, but being able to handle sudden changes is crucial when it comes to keeping your staff calm.
Keep Your Employees De-Stressed
Speaking of keeping your employees as calm as possible, it should be a top priority. If you’ve been closed for a long time, you might find yourself in a situation where you have to hire some new staff. Bringing in new people or hiring back your previous workers during this uncertain time can make it easy for miscommunication and even microaggressions to occur. Your “old” staff might say something disrespectful to someone new, or communicate with actions that are insensitive.
Managing those microaggressions is important, so you can deescalate any anger issues within your restaurant before they get out of hand. You can work through those aggressions with the employee(s) involved by:
Addressing the behaviors
Recognize your own bias and how it might be trickling down to your employees
Changing company policies
It’s probably safe to say that your staff is under just as much stress as you, even if it’s for different reasons. So, their lashing out might be coming from a place of anxiety or feeling overwhelmed. You can help every staff member to deal with feelings of anxiety in a healthy and effective way by encouraging a healthy work-life balance. Allow them to take frequent breaks, and encourage them to spend time with loved ones or doing something they enjoy when they’re off work.
When your employees aren’t overwhelmed by the stress of reopening, things will run smoother. But, reducing that stress starts at the top level. Make sure you’re paying attention to those who are struggling and step in when it’s needed. Lead with empathy.
Take Care of Yourself
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Working in the business, that metaphor should be obvious. But, it’s sometimes easier said than done to put the advice into practice.
Taking care of yourself needs to be a priority as you reopen a restaurant. It’s going to be more stressful than usual, and you’re going to have to handle things you aren’t used to. So, make sure you’re practicing self-care as much as possible. While that looks different for everyone, it might include things like:
Having a nightly routine to get better sleep
Exercising
Journaling
Practicing mindfulness or meditating
It’s so easy to become burnt out quickly when you’re working all the time. Add new rules onto that, managing and training new staff, and trying to keep everyone safe, and it becomes absolutely necessary to have time to unwind. If you don’t, you won’t be able to manage things effectively. And, you’ll run the risk of doing damage to your physical and/or mental health.
The idea of restaurants reopening is exciting. It’s another step back toward normalcy. But, it’s important to understand that “normal” isn’t here quite yet. So, your reopening might look a little different than you want. Keep these ideas in mind as you open your doors again, and establish an environment that is committed to the mental (and physical) health of everyone involved.