Italian Chefs Turn to Psychologists to Explore Workplace Stress

Italy is laying the framework for a programme that will look to serve the psychological needs and levels of stress experienced by those employed in the hospitality and catering industry with the involvement of an association of psychologists.

A pilot programme that may well prove invaluable to the whole sector is being established between the l’Associazione Italiana Ambasciatori del Gusto (Ambassadors of Taste), a non-profit association of representatives of those in the catering and pastry making space, and l’Ordine degli Psicologi del Lazio (Order of Psychologists of Lazio).

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the two associations with the aim of promoting the psychological well-being of the individual, the group and the community. There is a lack of scientific data on the issues of stress on workers in the hotel and catering industry and this programme intends to fill the gap and bring Italy up to speed on the work already done on this issue in other countries.

The associations will carry out a study through a specific research path, analysing the factors that contribute to creating stress within the different work environments of the sector and the consequent health effects, with the aim, in the medium-long term, to form a clear picture of the psychological working conditions to which many professionals are subjected.

The research will inform a document that, it is hoped, will become an industry-standard in information and as a prevention tool for the sector, for all the roles represented by the l’Associazione Italiana Ambasciatori del Gusto throughout Italy: cooks, restaurateurs, pizza chefs, bakers, sommeliers, pastry chefs, ice-cream makers and waiters.

"Work stress is a recognised pathology and a very current alarm signal even in the world of catering which we Ambasciatori have always been a spokesperson for. Starting this unprecedented collaboration with the l’Ordine degli Psicologi del Lazio, is a source of satisfaction and pride. Our commitment is to be able to return to the whole sector a panel of useful information in the daily management of work, individual and brigade, and a concrete tool for new generations, increasingly exposed to this type of pressure,” said Cristina Bowerman, President of l’Associazione Italiana Ambasciatori.