A grounded, empowering manual the hospitality industry can’t survive without.
If you think back to your early education, you can probably remember that one teacher everyone seemed to have, the one you had, your older sibling had, and maybe even your parents had decades earlier. They made a lasting impression on you, and you made one on them. You might run into them years later and find they still remember your name, your family, and the things you cared about. But we rarely build relationships like that with our restaurant workers, guest services employees, or hotel housekeepers. Why? It’s not because these employees don’t spend time with us or because they lack skill or accountability. The truth is, the best in these roles are often the ones who burn out the fastest. Across the hospitality field, workers face intense pressure, emotional fatigue, and constant turnover. Many leave their positions long before a relationship could ever form with guests or co-workers. So, how can an industry that endures such a high churn among its ranks turn the tide? Worth at Work is a motivating book by Kat Nisson and Randy Haveson that tackles this crisis in an unexpected, refreshing way. Instead of piling on more demands or harsher consequences, they flip the script entirely, addressing the problem from the inside out.
“Worth isn’t earned… It’s been there all along.” This warm appeal sits at the core of Worth at Work. Kat Nisson contributes leadership coaching and a conviction that exacting standards and genuine humanity can coexist. In addition to his own frontline experience, Randy Haveson brings decades of mental health, self-esteem, and recovery work to the table. Their partnership is reflected in the encouraging, forthright prose, and audiences will appreciate their bright, reassuring voices. The authors do everything they can to span the executive distance, though their upbeat, supportive tone may not connect equally with everyone who’s spent time on the front lines. Still, the recurring image of the energy ball, the acknowledgement of the real forces that drain our reserves, and the kinder shift to building people up spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically are a roadmap to sustainable success. The book features a number of ground-level anecdotes and familiar vignettes, but none leave as lasting an impression as hardworking concierge-in-training Maria, a sterling example of empowerment and self-worth shining through. More than a revamped corporate culture plan or an innovative training module, Worth at Work is a grounded, empowering manual the hospitality industry can’t survive without.
