 In an effort to recruit and retain staff in a tough labor market, restaurant operators are making changes to their benefits packages to demonstrate the safety and flexibility of their working environments. But these offerings don’t need to be hidden behind the scenes. Some brands are taking these changes as an opportunity to present the brand in a positive light with guests – and even offer them some perks in the process. Take Noodles & Company, which has made a commitment to supporting employees’ mental health through benefits including free counselling and mental wellness support through the HR platform LifeWorks. In January, Noodles & Company translated this into a guest-facing offer: They partnered with the online therapy company BetterHelp to offer a month of free therapy to up to 4,000 guests who purchased from the restaurant during the month.
 As labor challenges in the restaurant industry have persisted, mental health has taken the spotlight. How restaurants help employees manage the stresses of the work, which have surged during the pandemic, will play a role in their ability to retain and attract staff as we move out of it. While some restaurants are approaching this by offering more flexible schedules, family-friendly hours and insurance or well-being benefits, a Denver restaurant made news recently for hiring an in-house, full-time therapist to help employees with mental health challenges day to day. While it may sound like a measure unlikely to become commonplace in restaurants, most restaurants can expect employees (and potential employees) to scrutinize how they treat mental health concerns going forward – and whether newly improved policies are actually practiced within the business. How are you addressing mental health concerns in your business?
 Restaurant workers are expected to be helpful, caring and upbeat – but that can be a tall order at a time when restaurants are under great stress and many customers are behaving badly. Taking steps to protect the mental and physical health of your team can help you retain your existing staff and attract new people to your restaurant. First, provide a supportive environment where your team can acknowledge mental health challenges and feel it’s acceptable to talk about them with a manager and ask for time away from work to manage them. If you can, seek out discounts to local gyms, yoga studios or other facilities that can help your staff blow off steam – or offer to host a group fitness class for your team on a regular basis. You can also turn to help from apps designed with hospitality professionals in mind. Two are Sanvello, which provides support for a range of mental health concerns, and Ben’s Friends, a substance abuse support network for people in the industry.
 Even in the midst of mass unemployment and deep uncertainty, restaurants that have found a way to remain open are somehow continuing to make their customers and communities feel cared for. But what about caring for the restaurant employees who are taking the risk of coming to work and serving the public right now? Or the millions of others who are currently out of work? Challenges to employees’ physical, mental and financial health abound right now. There are ventures springing up throughout the country to help. Efforts like Furlough Kitchen and HospitALLity House are helping to address hunger by providing free meals to laid-off hospitality workers. A charity organization called No Us Without You launched in Los Angeles to help undocumented restaurant workers in the city. Restaurant Careers and Hospitality Relief Dashboard are offering leads on grants, interim work and other assistance. Finally, a list of resources, https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2020/health/coronavirus-how-to-help/#restaurants-and-food-workers, from CNN includes links to other sources of support for restaurants and food workers, as well as suggestions for communities looking to help the industry right now.
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