The role of leadership in improving employee wellbeing and building resilience in a changing world.

Abstract

Evidence from the tourism and hospitality industries shows growing concerns related to employee wellbeing. The issues with recruitment, retention and chronic worker shortages post pandemic are indicative of this. This research explores the role of leadership and managerial styles in improving employee wellbeing in times of turbulence and rapid changes. The focus is on post-pandemic wellbeing and work practices in the context of low skilled employment. The research involves semi-structured interviews and focus groups with industry stakeholders in the UK, as well as documentary analysis. This research will make original contribution to a less-researched area and will advance scholarly understanding of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices and employee wellbeing, particularly in situations of high levels of threat and uncertainty. The outputs will have implications for practitioners and recommendations for the industry will be provided.