Nine in ten event professionals say work-life balance expectations are damaging staff retention across the business meetings and events sector.
The Meetings Industry Association (MIA) surveyed professionals this June and found that more than half (53%) have witnessed increased burnout, stress or wellbeing issues in the past year. High workloads and tight deadlines are the main causes.
Despite growing awareness, wellbeing isn’t fully embedded in many organisations. Fewer than half (42%) said wellbeing is fully integrated into their workplace culture. Just 45% of organisations provide managers with mental health training.
38% believe the industry isn’t adapting well
The sector struggles to adapt to changing workforce needs. Over a third (38%) believe the industry isn’t adapting well, with eight in ten citing budget constraints as a barrier. Some 42% say their organisation isn’t investing in staff training, and over a quarter (28%) have no succession plan for key roles.
Less than half (47%) believe their organisation is well-positioned to stay competitive in the next three to five years.
However, 78% of those focused on future-proofing are developing early-career staff for leadership roles. In-house training is the most common approach, used by 88% of respondents.
55% report generational clashes in the workplace
The industry’s workforce is shifting generationally. Millennials remain the largest group, but Gen Z employees (ages 13-28) are growing rapidly. They bring fresh expectations around flexibility, transparency and wellbeing. More than half (55%) report workplace conflicts due to generational differences.
Recruiters worry about candidates’ industry awareness and communication skills, cited by 50% and 47% respectively. In response, 71% are being more transparent in job descriptions and interviews. A third now offer enhanced training and onboarding.
Over four-fifths (83%) are confident about retaining staff over the next 12 months. Flexibility tops the wish list (52%), followed by more management training (46%) and regular check-ins (35%). Some 59% of organisations now offer flexible working as standard practice.
“People are the foundation of our industry, which is why – for the first time – our latest insight’s report is dedicated entirely to our people,” Shonali Devereaux, chief executive of MIA, said. “The feedback clearly highlights where the gaps and opportunities lie.”
The results will be discussed at The Meetings Show when Devereaux hosts the MIA Meets session on the MIA stand (D51) on 25 June at 2pm.
