Industry
Staff Wellbeing in Sport and Leisure: A Guide for Employers
Sport and leisure teams help millions of people stay active, healthy and happy. Lifeguards, gym instructors, coaches, receptionists, duty managers and grounds staff keep facilities safe and welcoming, often across early mornings, late evenings and weekends.
Because the work is about promoting health, it’s easy to assume the people doing it are thriving too. The research tells a different story. This guide is for leisure operators, gyms, sports clubs, national governing bodies and trusts. It covers what the data says, the pressures your teams face and the practical steps you can take to support them.
Mental health in sport and leisure in numbers
The Workforce State of Mind Survey 2023, run by Workplace Mental Wealth with CIMSPA as official partner, heard from 918 people working in fitness and active leisure across the UK, plus 68 employers. It found that:
Over half of respondents had experienced a mental health issue in the past 12 months
Only 8% of employees said someone regularly checks on their mental health at work, down from 19% in 2021
46% said they wouldn’t be honest with their employer about taking time off for a mental health issue
49% of employers said they had a wellbeing strategy communicated to staff, but only 41% of employees said they had seen one
Deloitte estimates poor mental health costs private leisure employers between £702 and £769 per employee each year
Coaches face similar pressures. A 2026 Nottingham Trent University study of almost 150 UK swimming coaches, funded by the British Swimming Coaches Association, found that:
64% reported symptoms of depression
67% reported symptoms of anxiety
31% struggled with work-life balance and felt overwhelmed by their workload
38% weren’t aware of any support services available to them
The pressures sport and leisure teams face
Early starts, late finishes and weekend work
Facilities often open before 7am and close late, with peak times in the evenings and at weekends. Split shifts and changing rotas make it hard to rest, see family and friends, or keep a routine.
Coaches and instructors under pressure
Coaches and fitness instructors often juggle several jobs or work on a self-employed basis. They may feel responsible for athletes’ results, manage demanding parents or members, and have little support of their own.
Seasonal, casual and part-time staff
Many operators rely on seasonal, casual and zero-hours workers, especially in summer and during school holidays. Insecure hours and pay can cause money worries, and short-term staff may not know what support is available.
Customer-facing pressure and abuse
Reception, front-of-house and poolside staff deal with complaints, disputes over memberships and bookings, and sometimes verbal abuse. Young or less experienced team members can find this particularly difficult.
Safety-critical roles and incidents
Lifeguards and duty managers carry responsibility for people’s safety. Responding to an accident, a medical emergency or a serious incident can be distressing and can stay with staff long afterwards.
Lone working and physical demands
Some staff open or close sites alone, work in quiet areas or look after outdoor facilities. Physical work, heavy lifting and long hours on their feet can also lead to tiredness, injury and stress.
Warning signs to look out for
Managers and colleagues are often the first to notice when someone is struggling. Signs can include:
Seeming withdrawn, flat or less engaged with members and colleagues
More irritability or short temper, especially with the public
Looking tired, or picking up extra shifts and never taking a break
More lateness, sickness absence or swapping shifts at short notice
Mistakes in routine or safety checks
Talking about money worries, feeling overwhelmed or wanting to leave
Changes in eating, drinking or exercise habits
If you notice these signs, a quiet, private conversation is a good first step. You don’t need to be an expert. Listening and helping someone find support can make a real difference.
Practical steps to support your team
Plan rotas with wellbeing in mind
Share rotas as early as possible and keep them consistent where you can
Avoid back-to-back late closes and early opens
Make sure everyone gets proper breaks, even at peak times
Check in regularly
Build short wellbeing check-ins into team briefings and one-to-ones
Make sure part-time, casual and seasonal staff are included
Ask open questions and follow up on anything that’s raised
Protect staff from abuse
Set out clear standards of behaviour for members and visitors
Make sure staff know they will be supported when they deal with abusive customers
Record incidents and review patterns so you can act on repeat problems
Support staff after incidents
Hold a short debrief after any serious incident or emergency
Check in with everyone involved in the days and weeks that follow
Make sure staff know how to access confidential support
Look after lone workers
Have clear lone working procedures, including check-in calls
Make sure lone workers can raise concerns easily
Review risks regularly, especially for early opening and late closing
Make your wellbeing support visible
The research shows many staff don’t know what support exists, even when their employer has a strategy. Share your wellbeing offer at induction, in staff areas and through regular reminders, and make sure managers can explain how to access it.
How an EAP helps sport and leisure employers
An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) gives your whole team confidential support whenever they need it, including early mornings, evenings and weekends. With Wisdom Wellbeing, your staff can access:
A 24/7 confidential helpline for emotional, practical and financial support
Short-term structured counselling with qualified counsellors
Financial and debt advice for staff dealing with money worries
The Wisdom app, with self-help tools, wellbeing content and the Wisdom Academy e-learning courses
Manager support and guidance on difficult conversations
Critical incident support after accidents, emergencies or traumatic events
An EAP gives every team member somewhere to turn, whether they’re full-time, part-time or seasonal, at a single site or across many.
Find out more about our EAP and wellbeing support for sport and recreation. If your venues include bars, cafés or hospitality, our guide to mental health in hospitality may also help.
FAQs
Why do sport and leisure staff need mental health support?
Sport and leisure teams often work early, late and at weekends, deal with the public and carry responsibility for safety. The Workforce State of Mind Survey 2023 found that over half of people working in fitness and active leisure had experienced a mental health issue in the past 12 months.
How can leisure operators support seasonal and casual staff?
Include seasonal and casual staff in inductions, check-ins and wellbeing communications. Make sure they know how to access support such as an EAP from their first shift, and share rotas early so they can plan around their hours.
How can sports clubs support coaches’ mental health?
Give coaches regular check-ins, clear boundaries around workload and contact with parents, and access to confidential support. Research with UK swimming coaches found that 38% weren’t aware of any support services available to them.
What should a leisure centre do after a serious incident?
Hold a short debrief, check in with everyone involved over the following days and weeks, and offer confidential support. Critical incident support through an EAP can help staff process what happened.
What does an EAP offer sport and leisure employers?
An EAP offers a 24/7 confidential helpline, short-term counselling, financial and legal advice, manager support and self-help tools through an app. It gives every team member, including part-time and seasonal staff, access to support whenever they need it.
Sources
British Swimming Coaches Association, Research reveals mental health strain within swimming coaching
Wisdom Wellbeing
Wisdom Wellbeing provides clinically led Employee Assistance Programmes to organisations across the UK and Ireland. Specialising in mental health and wellbeing, we publish practical guidance for employees, employers and business owners, including articles written by our counsellors to offer expertise from a clinical perspective. We also write for students at college and university who want to improve and maintain their mental wellbeing.
Support your employees with an EAP
With an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) from Wisdom Wellbeing, we can offer you practical advice and support when it comes to dealing with workplace stress and anxiety issues.
Our EAP service provides guidance and supports your employees with their mental health in the workplace and at home. We can help you create a safe, productive workspace that supports all.
