EAP for Hospitality · Australia
High turnover costs you more than an EAP ever will
Hospitality has Australia’s highest staff turnover rates. Burnout, irregular hours, and high-pressure service environments take a toll. Resplora gives your team confidential support — and your business a genuine retention tool.
A persistent workforce challenge
The hospitality turnover problem
- Industry turnover rates of 30–40% annually — some venues higher
- Average cost to replace a hospitality employee: $7,000–$15,000 (recruitment, training, lost productivity during transition)
- For a 25-person café or restaurant losing 30% of staff annually: up to $112,000 in annual turnover costs
- Burnout is a leading driver of this turnover — particularly for long-serving, high-performing staff who gradually hit a wall.
Occupational pressures
Specific stressors in hospitality
Customer-facing emotional labour
Remaining pleasant and professional under pressure, dealing with difficult customers.
Physical demands
Long shifts on your feet, physically demanding service environments.
Irregular and unsociable hours
Evenings, weekends, split shifts disrupt sleep and personal relationships.
Seasonal pressure
Peak periods (Christmas, New Year, school holidays) create sustained overload.
Low industry status
Workers often feel undervalued, which compounds other stressors.
Post-COVID staff shortages
Remaining staff absorb the work of a reduced workforce.
A meaningful differentiator
EAP as a retention tool
An EAP sends a clear message: “We take your wellbeing seriously enough to invest in it.” In a sector where most employers offer little beyond wages, an EAP is a meaningful differentiator — both for attracting staff and keeping them.
Attraction
A listed benefit that sets you apart in a low-benefit industry.
Retention
If an EAP helps retain even one employee who would otherwise have left, the cost savings easily cover years of EAP costs.
Accessible on any schedule
Sessions bookable online 24/7 — no need to navigate around split shifts or late nights.
Worked example
Restaurant, 18 staff
A 60-seat restaurant with 18 staff sets up Resplora EAP. In 12 months, 3 employees use the service: 2 use 2 counselling sessions each, 1 uses 1 counselling session.
Setup
$199 (once)
Counselling — 5 sessions × $150
$750
Total year 1
$949
If one of those 3 employees stays rather than leaving due to burnout, you’ve saved $7,000–$15,000 in turnover costs.
WHS in this sector
WHS in hospitality
Hospitality venues are PCBUs under the WHS Act. High job demands, irregular hours, and customer-facing emotional labour are recognised psychosocial hazards under Safe Work Australia’s framework.
A documented EAP is a practical, low-cost control measure for a sector with limited HR resourcing.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions — Hospitality
Our staff work evenings and weekends. Can they book sessions outside business hours?
Yes. Sessions can be booked online 24/7. Actual session availability depends on therapist schedules, which include some evening and weekend slots.
We have high seasonal turnover. Can we pause the EAP?
Contact us. We can discuss arrangements for seasonal businesses.
Many of our staff are young (18–25). Is this appropriate for them?
Yes. All our therapists work with young adults. Younger employees often have lower barriers to seeking help than older generations.
Meet your obligations
Support your people as part of a broader psychosocial safety strategy
Give employees confidential access to qualified counsellors and psychologists, with no setup fee and two flexible pricing options.
This page provides general information only. It is not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a WHS consultant or employment lawyer.