Working in hospitality has its perks. You get to interact with people from all walks of life, stay active throughout your shifts, and hone your problem-solving and communication skills. But the fast-paced, people-centric nature of this industry can also make it overwhelming. That’s why having personal boundaries is essential—not only for maintaining your mental health but also for thriving professionally. If you work in hospitality, consider setting the following boundaries.
1. Stick to Your Scheduled Hours
Hospitality is infamous for providing its workers with irregular schedules and pressuring them to accept overtime. Though it is admirable to help when you can, don’t set the precedent for unsustainable expectations.
Set clear boundaries around your availability and communicate them with your manager. Protect your personal time; it’s what enables you to stay energized and productive when you’re at work.
2. Enforce Physical and Emotional Space
When you’re in hospitality, you’re in a customer-facing role that revolves around helping others. However, this doesn’t mean you owe anyone unlimited access to your time, energy, or personal space.
Unfortunately, many people view the nature of hospitality as a hall pass for inappropriate behavior. For example, waitstaff frequently receives sexual harassment from customers who want to take advantage of the expectation of friendly service.
Polite but firm communication is key when deflecting inappropriate comments or behaviors, especially in delicate situations like dealing with overly friendly patrons. If you experience sexual harassment, it’s not your responsibility to manage it alone. Inform your supervisor immediately, and rely on your workplace protocol to handle the situation. Draw a firm line when it comes to your safety and well-being.
3. Don’t Be a Yes-Person
Hospitality workers have can-do attitudes, but always saying yes to everything can trap you in a cycle of overextension. Remember that how much work you take on doesn’t reflect your worth. Learn to say no respectfully but confidently when something pushes beyond your limits.
4. Advocate for Yourself
Another essential boundary to set if you work in hospitality concerns asking to be properly treated, respected, and compensated. Setting firm lines around fair pay and treatment is not unprofessional, despite the lax attitude many businesses in hospitality have regarding those matters. Advocate respectfully but firmly, whether it’s regarding equal workload distribution, workplace safety measures, opportunities for growth, and so forth.
Ultimately, boundaries help you create a space where you can perform at your best while protecting your emotional, mental, and physical well-being. By holding yourself to these standards, you can enjoy a healthier, happier career in hospitality.
- How do you currently manage your work-life balance in hospitality?
- What proactive steps can you take if a customer crosses a line?
- How comfortable are you with saying no at work, and why?
- Have you experienced burnout from overextending yourself? If so, how did you address it?
- What support systems could your workplace introduce to enforce healthy boundaries, and how could you advocate for these systems?
