It comes as no surprise to those in the event industry that the role of ‘event organiser’ is commonly ranked as one of the top five most stressful jobs in the world. De-Stress Fest, a free-to-attend wellbeing festival for the event industry that was held at The Royal Horticultural Halls in May, issued a survey to its attendees to find out what event organisers require for their work life to improve.
100% of respondents requested employers to be more proactive in reducing stress at work. 80% acknowledged that the job itself had become more stressful in the last five years, with some saying that their workload had doubled. When asked about the kind of wellness initiatives they’d like to see in the workplace, there were a wide range of responses to aid mental and physical well-being including taking the Stress Matters pledge, talk therapy, meditation, re-balancing, massage, yoga, workshops and Access Bars which ‘de-frags’ the brain.
75% took away useful tips from the festival to help them de-stress at work and home, with 25% recognising the need to take a break to re-energise body and mind to be more productive in the long run. Breathing techniques were also a big hit as were re-balancing and posture re-alignment.
Lorraine Thorne, venue sales manager said, “I’m glad De-Stress Fest served people well, and many took something valuable away with them. The survey also showed that there is a need for events like this and everyone wants De-Stress Fest to happen next year. We are currently in discussion, so watch this space.”
Laura Capell-Abra from Stress Matters commented, “It’s no surprise that organisers are desperate for their employers to recognise their plight, however, it’s not asking the impossible. By taking time out to hear their needs and give them tools such as going on mental health first aider workshops, employers will be able to put systems in place to avoid stress getting out of control, thereby achieving a happier and more productive work force.”
Author: Molly Hookings
Molly joined the editorial team in March 2019. She has several years’ experience working in broadcast and journalism, as well as marketing and PR. Past experience includes working for the BBC and independent publishing houses. If you have a story you think Molly might be interested in, please email: molly@eventindustrynews.com
