Category: Blog Posts

New Considerations for Navigating Job Insecurity and Scheduling in the Hospitality Industry

Posted on by Moses Rivera

Authors: James Lai, Michael DiStaso, and Ann Schlotzhauer According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 40% of hospitality jobs were lost at the start of the pandemic. Job insecurity (i.e., the feeling that a worker could lose their job in the future) has been a major source of stress for many Americans, made Read more about New Considerations for Navigating Job Insecurity and Scheduling in the Hospitality Industry[…]

Hospitality Workers’ Concerns About Returning to Work & Providing Support for their Voice

Posted on by Moses Rivera

Authors: Ignacio Azcarate, Angela Le, Wheeler Nakahara, and Michael DiStaso According to the Washington Post, nearly 8 million employees in the U.S. hospitality and tourism industry lost their jobs during the pandemic. As of this April 2021, about 5 million of those employees have returned to work. However, news reports indicate that employees across all Read more about Hospitality Workers’ Concerns About Returning to Work & Providing Support for their Voice[…]

How May We Help You? Understanding What Hospitality Employees (and Employers) Need in a Job

Posted on by Moses Rivera

Author: Kristin A. Horan, Assistant Professor and Deputy Director of Program Administration for the Targeted Research Training Program Many places in the U.S. are seeing hints of pre-pandemic normalcy. Capacity limits have been eased in restaurants and more individuals and families are enjoying travel and leisure activities. In several industries across the nation, including Central Read more about How May We Help You? Understanding What Hospitality Employees (and Employers) Need in a Job[…]

Finding Purpose: A Life Checkup

Posted on by Moses Rivera

Author: Moses Rivera, PhD Student in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Recently in the hospitality industry, job insecurity and layoffs have been particularly devastating. For these workers, the anxiety of seeking employment—sometimes outside of their primary industry of expertise—is all too real. In this frustration and confusion, it can be easy to lose sight of the trajectory Read more about Finding Purpose: A Life Checkup[…]

Lessons from Astronauts for Managing Isolation

Posted on by Moses Rivera

Author: Katherine Ciarlante, PhD Student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Data collected during Covid-19 has found that many Americans report feeling lonely or isolated from others at higher than at pre-pandemic levels. These numbers are particularly high among older Americans who have shown significant increases in reported loneliness  and decreases in social contact. Covid-19 safety practices, including Read more about Lessons from Astronauts for Managing Isolation[…]

Hospitality Workers: Managing Emotions During COVID-19

Posted on by Moses Rivera

Author: Moses Rivera, PhD Student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. The COVID-19 pandemic represents a threat to workers’ health, family, job security, and personal finances. These threats cause people to experience a variety of negative emotions, according to Dr. Alicia Grandey, an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist from Penn State University. Grandey recently conducted an online workshop as part of Read more about Hospitality Workers: Managing Emotions During COVID-19[…]

Accessing Low-Cost Mental Health Services During COVID-19

Posted on by Moses Rivera

Author: Katherine Ciarlante, PhD Student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. COVID-19 has changed our lives in many ways and the economic and social pressures associated with the pandemic have negatively impacted the mental health of many. As a result, many may be seeking mental health services, for themselves or their family, for the first time. This can Read more about Accessing Low-Cost Mental Health Services During COVID-19[…]

Managing Stress During COVID-19

Posted on by Moses Rivera

Author: Michael DiStaso, Doctoral Candidate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. COVID-19 has had a negative impact on employees in the United States and worldwide. The hospitality industry has been especially impacted. Restaurants have been forced to limit their services and hotels operate at significantly reduced occupancy because of travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders. Many employees have been Read more about Managing Stress During COVID-19[…]

What are occupational health interventions?

Posted on by Amanda Grinley

Author: Katherine Ciarlante, PhD Student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. While the word “intervention” often makes people think of efforts to address drug and alcohol abuse or personal health issues, there is more to interventions than meets the eye. Interventions are important tools that can be used to create positive, lasting changes in employees and organizations. What Read more about What are occupational health interventions?[…]

Overcoming Obstacles to Interdisciplinary Graduate Research

Posted on by Amanda Grinley

Based on Morse, Nielsen-Pincus, Force, and Wulfhorst (2007) Authors: Katherine Ciarlante, PhD Student; Jenna Beltramo, PhD Student; and Amanda Grinley, PhD Student. As workplaces become more complex it becomes more difficult to protect employee safety and health. Even experts in a discipline don’t have all the answers. They must work together with other disciplines, multiplying Read more about Overcoming Obstacles to Interdisciplinary Graduate Research[…]