Co-Owner Of Tulsa Restaurant Works To Provide Employees Mental Health Support

The co-owner of Tulsa restaurant is trying to do Something Good for her employees by getting them mental health support. 

Since the pandemic began Johnna Hayes says every restaurant shift is a fight to stay positive, be friendly, to deal with problems with grace, to greet tables with joy, to work together when there aren't enough employees on the floor.

"We have staff who is willing to move around and work extra and put in 20 hours of overtime on their own- they do it because they love their job, and they love this company, and I just couldn't be more lucky," said Johnna Hayes with 3 Sirens Restaurant Group. 

Despite employees' resilience and hard work supply chain shortages, staffing issues, dealing with the ebb and flow of covid cases, getting laid off and rehired, the chaos of the pandemic has hit restaurant employees hard.

"It has been pretty terrible. It is a roller coaster, and it is not one we get to predict when it stops," said Hayes. 

Joanna's focus is now, on her employee's mental health. She wants to make sure they have a professional to talk to, someone who can look them in the eyes and give them the support that she can't.

"I would love for them to have the opportunity to talk to someone that isn't a service person, or their husbands or boyfriends or something," said Hayes, "Having someone look in your eyes these days means a lot when sometimes that is all you can see."

Johnna put the word out on Facebook and says 15-20 people responded offering to help when they could.

"There is a network of people who I am fortunate to have," said Hayes. 

We all need a little extra right now- a little extra support, a little extra kindness, a little more compassion, a little more grace.

"I think we all need somebody to listen to us and help guide us through these next months that are coming," said Hayes.