Over half of event professionals have witnessed an increase in burnout, stress or wellbeing-related issues in the past year, according to a survey by the Meetings Industry Association (MIA). Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Vikkymir Store
High workloads and tight deadlines are leading to increased levels of burnout and stress among event professionals, causing wellbeing-related issues and impacting staff retention.
This is according to a survey by the Meetings Industry Association (MIA), which revealed that over half of respondents (53%) have witnessed an increase in burnout, stress or wellbeing-related issues in the past year. This lack of a work-life balance is one of the leading factors impacting staff retention.
The research also found that despite growing awareness, wellbeing is yet to be fully embedded in many organisations. Fewer than half (42%) of respondents said wellbeing is fully integrated into their workplace culture, and just 45% of organisations currently provide managers with training to support mental health wellbeing in the workplace.
Other findings showed that opinion is divided regarding the sector’s readiness for the workforce of the future. Over a third of those surveyed (38%) believe the industry is not adapting very well to evolving workforce needs, with 8 in 10 citing budget constraints as a significant barrier.
Moreover, 42% say their organisation is not currently investing in upskilling or reskilling staff, and over a quarter (28%) have no succession plan in place for key roles. These limitations are reflected in confidence levels, with less than half (47%) believing their organisation is well-positioned to stay competitive in the next three to five years.
Positively, amongst those focused on futureproofing their workforce, 78% are actively developing early-career staff for future leadership roles, with in-house training cited as the most common approach, highlighted by 88% of respondents.