Sick Leave in the Restaurant Industry: Understanding the Causes and Limiting the Impact on Your Team

In the restaurant industry, sick leave represents a real challenge for employers. In 2023, a restaurant employee was off work for an average of 39 days, a figure that reveals the arduous nature and risks associated with this profession.

Shift work, demanding pace, physical fatigue and high exposure to accidents : these factors all help explain this reality. As a result, each unexpected absence causes disruption, increases the workload of the teams present and can affect service quality. In this article, Shoes For Crews helps you understand the causes of sick leave in the restaurant industry and implement targeted preventive measures to ensure service quality and your teams’ well-being.

Understanding the Causes of Sick Leave in the Restaurant Industry

Sick leave in the restaurant industry can be explained both by intense physical demands and by organizational factors that undermine employees’ health.

Physical Causes of Sick Leave

Working in the kitchen and dining room exposes employees to significant risks every day. Prolonged standing, handling loads, using sharp or hot utensils, slippery floors : all of these situations are conducive to accidents and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

In 2022, 34,660 workplace accidents in accommodation and food services in France were recorded. In addition, falls and slips on the same level are one of the main causes of accidents in the restaurant industry. Common physical risks include :

• Long hours standing : restaurant employees remain standing almost constantly, which encourages joint pain, lower back pain and chronic fatigue.
• Handling heavy loads : lifting heavy equipment puts strain on the back and shoulders, increasing the risk of muscle injuries or MSDs.
• Cuts from knives and preparation machines : speed of execution and repetitive movements increase the risk of hand and finger injuries.
• Burns from cooking equipment : hobs, ovens, fryers and hot liquids regularly cause accidents that can result in long-term sick leave.
• Falls caused by slippery floors : in both the kitchen and dining room, spilled water, oil or food can turn the floor into a high-risk area, causing injuries to the legs, ankles or back.

Psychological and Organizational Causes

Beyond the physical demands, restaurant work is known for its high mental workload. Teams must juggle shift work, long days and constant pressure related to speed of execution and customer expectations. This intensity increases during peak periods, when shorter deadlines and excessive workloads lead to high stress. Staff shortages, which are common in the industry, intensify this phenomenon by forcing the employees present to take on additional tasks.

This is compounded by the difficulty of reconciling professional and personal life. Late or split shifts disrupt sleep and recovery, promote chronic fatigue and limit social or family life. These constraints can lead to irritability, gradually declining motivation and, over time, psychological conditions such as burnout or anxiety disorders. Although less visible than a physical injury, these intangible factors have an equally significant impact on the frequency and duration of sick leave in the restaurant industry.

Sick leave in the restaurant industry therefore results as much from physical hardship as from psychological demands. An effective prevention strategy must therefore address both dimensions simultaneously.

How Can You Limit the Impact of Sick Leave in the Restaurant Industry ?

Limiting sick leave in the restaurant industry requires a comprehensive approach combining organization, prevention and investment in suitable equipment.

1. Improve Organization and Task Distribution

Better work organization significantly reduces fatigue and the risk of accidents. Employers can improve schedule planning by avoiding excessively long days and too many split shifts. Distributing tasks fairly among team members also reduces excessive workloads and creates a more peaceful working environment. Finally, planning for additional staff during peak periods limits pressure on employees and improves service quality.

2. Promote Training and Awareness

Prevention requires regular training for teams. Employees must be made aware of safe movements and postures to reduce musculoskeletal disorders, as well as safety rules to prevent cuts, burns and falls. Training in stress management and internal communication can also strengthen cohesion and reduce tension. A trained employee is better equipped to anticipate risks and adopt the right habits every day.

3. The Importance of Personal Protective Equipment

In an environment where accidents are frequent, personal protective equipment (PPE) plays an essential role. Safety shoes, in particular, are indispensable allies in both the kitchen and dining room. Slip-resistant, they significantly reduce the risk of falls. They also provide greater comfort, reducing joint pain associated with prolonged standing, and protect against impacts or splashes of hot liquids. Investing in quality PPE is therefore not merely an expense, but an effective prevention measure for reducing the duration and frequency of sick leave.

4. Encourage Well-Being at Work

Finally, well-being at work is a key factor. Regular breaks, recognition of work accomplished and a positive atmosphere strengthen team motivation. An employee who feels supported and valued will be more engaged and less likely to take sick leave related to stress or a lack of motivation.

These good practices aim to protect restaurant employees by reducing arduousness and limiting the risk of accidents. Prolonged standing, frequent movement and exposure to slippery floors make it essential to adopt solutions suited to the profession. Among these, safety shoes play a key role by providing comfort, stability and protection. So, if you would like to provide your teams with shoes specially designed for the restaurant industry, feel free to browse our catalog or contact our experts at Shoes For Crews, the leader in slip-resistant shoes since 1984, who can guide you through our available models.