Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Provider for Hospitality & Tourism in Australia
Last Updated 02/12/25 By Vanessa Cortez
EAP Programs @ Mindway EAP
The tourism and hospitality industries are essential to the operation of Australia's economy. Hotels, restaurants, bars, airplanes, and tour businesses are all places of employment that employ millions of people. People who work in this industry are always under pressure to provide excellent customer service, despite the fact that they must cope with an unpredictable schedule, shift work, and the challenges that come with working at busy periods. Furthermore, occupations in the hospitality and tourist industries are frequently taxing on both the body and the mind, which results in a significant amount of stress and employee turnover. When it comes to providing assistance to workers, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are of utmost significance since they provide confidential counseling, resources for health and wellbeing, and helpful methods for coping with stress. Businesses who provide employee assistance programs (EAP) notice a reduction in absenteeism and employee turnover. Additionally, their team is content, which implies that they provide superior service to customers and provide superior experiences for guests.

What you’ll learn in this article
  • Why EAP is crucial for hospitality and tourism staff
  • How EAP helps with stress and burnout in service roles
  • The benefits of EAP for staff retention in a high-turnover industry
  • Leadership’s role in supporting employee wellbeing
  • Real examples of EAP success in hotels and restaurants
  • Practical tips for implementing EAP in tourism businesses

Why hospitality & tourism staff need EAP

Those who work in the tourism and hospitality industry are required to put in long hours and stay up late in order to maintain constant communication with consumers. Employees are typically required to handle a large number of tasks simultaneously, deal with high standards, and may have to deal with visitors that are difficult to work with. Mental exhaustion, anxiety, and a decreased sense of satisfaction with your job are all potential outcomes of this ongoing stress. Employee assistance programs (EAP) provide employees with a confidential setting in which they may discuss their issues and seek solutions to address them. An environment in which workers feel motivated, valued, and driven to give outstanding service is created by employers who engage in employee assistance programs (EAP).

Tackling stress and burnout in service roles

The tourist and hotel businesses face a significant challenge in the form of burnout, particularly during periods of high demand when employees are stretched to their limits. It is possible for the workload to become overwhelming, since it is the responsibility of cooks to fulfill orders in a sequential manner and hotel receptionists to organize complete bookings. People who participate in EAP programs are provided with helpful methods to deal with stress, in order to strengthen their emotions and to create a balance between their personal health and the requirements of their employment. When employees receive assistance of this type, they are less likely to experience burnout and more likely to maintain their concentration and efficiency.
Employee:
I’ve been feeling drained with the late-night shifts and constant guest interactions. It’s starting to affect my mood at work.
You:
Thank you for sharing that. We’ve partnered with an EAP provider to give staff access to confidential support whenever they need it.

Reducing turnover and improving retention

The tourist and hotel sectors are plagued by a widespread issue known as high churn, which may result in significant financial losses for businesses due to the need to educate and hire new employees. Many people leave their jobs because they are under a lot of stress, their hours are inconsistent, or they feel that they are not respected. EAP provides employees with the opportunity to obtain tools that demonstrate the company's concern for their health. This allows businesses to retain staff for longer periods of time, improve the cohesiveness of teams, and save money. Being able to have employees who are more committed to the company and who have more experience is beneficial to the company over time since it instantly makes consumers happier.

Supporting leadership and team culture

It is common for leaders in the hotel sector to prioritize more practical objectives, such as sales and speed, which leaves them with little time to worry about the well-being and contentment of their employees. On the other hand, leadership is a significant component of the successful operation of the workplace. Employee assistance programs (EAP) firms not only provide assistance to workers on the front lines, but they also instruct managers on how to recognize symptoms of stress, enhance communication, and encourage employees to make use of support services. When leaders demonstrate concern for the well-being and contentment of their employees, they not only create a pleasant work environment but also make it a more desirable place to work.
"When hospitality workers feel supported, they turn service into memorable experiences." - Australian Hotels Association

Enhancing guest experiences through staff wellbeing

When workers are content, customers are content as well. Employees are more inclined to go the additional mile to deliver excellent service when they have the sense that they are supported and valued by their employer. People are able to have more patience, improve their ability to communicate with one another, and have more energy as a result of EAP programs, which reduce stress and raise mood. This results in more positive evaluations, repeat customers, and an improved brand image for businesses that cater to tourists and hospitality industry. All of these benefits are a direct result of having a healthy workforce.
During periods of high visitor volume, the managers of a busy hotel in Sydney saw that their employees were becoming increasingly anxious about their duties. In addition, there was a startlingly high turnover rate among receptionists, and the cleaning crew reported that they were exhausted. Staff satisfaction skyrocketed when the establishment introduced an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) service that included counseling, seminars on mental health, and training on how to resolve issues. staff reported feeling more prepared to fulfill the demands of visitors, and there was a 20% decrease in the number of staff who skipped work.

A food firm in Melbourne experienced the same issues, with a significant number of employees quitting their jobs due to the stress and the long hours they worked. The firm was able to improve its customer satisfaction scores and retention rates by establishing an employee assistance program (EAP), which allowed it to give continuing assistance to its employees. Because of the program, employees had the impression that they were valued, which resulted in a more robust workplace and enhanced the dining experiences of customers.

Enhancing guest experiences through staff wellbeing

When workers are content, customers are content as well. Employees are more inclined to go the additional mile to deliver excellent service when they have the sense that they are supported and valued by their employer. People are able to have more patience, improve their ability to communicate with one another, and have more energy as a result of EAP programs, which reduce stress and raise mood. This results in more positive evaluations, repeat customers, and an improved brand image for businesses that cater to tourists and hospitality industry. All of these benefits are a direct result of having a healthy workforce.
Key Takeaways
  • EAP reduces burnout
    Hospitality and tourism staff gain tools to manage stress, ensuring they stay engaged and resilient.
  • EAP improves retention
    By showing staff their wellbeing matters, businesses build loyalty in a high-turnover industry.
  • EAP supports leadership
    Managers gain skills to lead with empathy, creating stronger and healthier workplace cultures.
  • EAP enhances guest service
    Happier employees deliver better service, leading to satisfied guests and stronger reputations.
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"We’re extremely satisfied with the services and counselling provided. It’s great to see our staff benefiting from it." 28% of staff use services
Priya, HR Director