In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and amidst the current economic challenges, the hospitality industry in Australia is grappling with significant chef and staff burnout. Long hours, high stress, and labour shortages have left many in the industry feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
There are many ways to combat this and we’re going to cover one in this piece. Innovative technologies offer a promising solution to alleviate some of these pressures, improving overall efficiency and job satisfaction in the hospitality sector.
Challenges Impacting The Hospitality Industry
There are many challenges the Australian Hospitality Industry is currently facing. We’re going to focus on two which have had a significant impact in recent years.
Burnout & Labour Shortages: The COVID pandemic has exacerbated existing issues in the hospitality industry, leading to a severe shortage of skilled chefs and staff. Many workers left the industry during lockdowns, and not all have returned, creating a gap that is difficult to fill. The resulting increase in workload on remaining staff has led to higher stress levels and burnout.
Economic Pressures: The Australian economy faces its own set of challenges, including rising costs and reduced consumer spending. Hospitality businesses must operate more efficiently than ever to maintain profitability while ensuring quality service.
The Impact Of Burnout in the Australian Hospitality Industry
The hospitality industry faces issues post-pandemic and in the wake of the current economy. This has seen an increased labour loss with an ever-shrinking labour pool giving rise to worrying issues like burnout in the industry.
“According to a 2021 study by The Limeade Institute, 52% of food service workers cited burnout as the top reason for quitting their job between late 20 and early 2021. Of those surveyed, 28% were so dissatisfied with their jobs they left without having another job available.” Unox Australia.
How Can Technology Help Reduce Staff Burnout in the Australian Hospitality Industry
Innovative technologies, such as combination ovens and smart kitchen equipment, can significantly reduce the workload of chefs and staff. These devices allow for precise cooking with minimal supervision, ensuring consistent quality and freeing up chefs to focus on more creative and less repetitive tasks.
An example of these technologies can be seen in holding cabinets like the EVEREO UNOX. These units are designed to keep food at the perfect serving temperature for extended periods without compromising quality. This reduces the pressure on kitchen staff to prepare dishes on demand, allowing for better time management and subsequently, reduced stress.
How Holding Cabinets Reduce Stress in the Kitchen
Holding cabinets are designed to preserve cooked food at the ideal serving temperature for extended periods without compromising on quality. This capability means chefs can prepare dishes in advance and store them, reducing the need for constant cooking during peak hours. By spreading the workload more evenly, these cabinets mitigate the intense pressure and fatigue experienced by kitchen staff.
1. Consistency & Quality Control
Maintaining consistent food quality is paramount in the hospitality industry. The advanced technology found in holding cabinets, like the EVEREO UNOX cabinets, ensures that each dish remains at the perfect temperature and texture. This reduces the risk of overcooking and subsequently, spoilage. This consistency helps maintain high standards, reducing stress for chefs who can trust their creations will be served perfectly every time.
2. Increased Efficiency
Holding cabinets streamline kitchen operations by minimising the need for immediate cooking and last-minute preparations. This increased efficiency allows for better time management and resource allocation. This is beneficial during busy service periods. Staff can focus on other critical tasks, improving the overall productivity while reducing the frantic pace that leads to burnout.
3. Flexibility in Menu Offerings
With the ability to hold a wide variety of dishes, holding cabinets provide greater flexibility in menu offerings. Restaurants can introduce more complex or labour-intensive dishes without overburdening staff, enhancing the dining experience for customers while managing workloads more effectively.
4. Reduced Waste & Costs
By preserving food longer without degradation, holding cabinets helps reduce food waste, a significant cost factor in the hospitality industry. This reduction alleviates economic pressures on businesses, allowing them to operate more efficiently with less financial strain.
A Solution to Alleviate Burnout in Your Restaurant or Cafe
Many Australian hospitality businesses are embracing the benefits of new technologies, such as those present in kitchen holding cabinets. High-volume restaurants and catering services have reported smoother operations, improved staff morale, and a noticeable decrease in kitchen-related stress since introducing these miracle workers in the kitchen. By adopting innovative technology like these, establishments have demonstrated a proactive approach to overcoming the current industry challenges we’ve discussed.
There are many more strategies to alleviate these issues, but we’ve focused on the benefits of the latest technology in Holding Cabinets to help eliminate the strain.
Let Your Kitchen Work Smarter, Not Harder With Holding Cabinets
Cook food ahead of time and know you’re delivering quality with commercial equipment like EVEREO. Where traditional holding cabinets can only hold hot food for a few hours before the quality is compromised, EVEREO raises the bar by allowing operators to hold hot food safely for up to 3 days – without sacrificing quality.
Service Temperature Food Preserving is an innovative, patented technology developed by UNOX to function like a “hot fridge” achieving the same goal as cold food preservation, except using a safe level of heat instead of cold. EVEREO hold food at a temperature above the bacterial growth range, which means food is safer than that which is chilled and reheated again for service.
Extremely precise temperature and humidity controls allow the operator to fine-tune the atmosphere with the EVEREO’s intuitive programming automatically suggesting specific settings depending on the food it is storing.
Help Purchasing a Holding Cabinet for your Kitchen!
Reward Hospitality has an array of equipment, products, and services to help hospitality providers mitigate burnout in their business while offering substantial service. We stock a large range of commercial kitchen equipment including the popular EVEREO range of Holding Cabinets.
If you’re not sure where to start, or which unit is best for your business, our team of equipment experts are available for a no-obligation chat with their expert advice based on years of experience. We also offer finance solutions tailored to your specific needs. Chat with us online today, send us a message, or give us a call to discuss how we can help get you started. Your success is our success!