Senior director Nicole McMickle has made it her mission to foster open dialogue, raise awareness, and reduce stigmas

Nicole McMickle will celebrate 19 years with Bloomin’ Brands in September, and during that time, she’s had the opportunity to grow through a variety of roles, including managing partner and multiunit operator. She eventually transitioned to the Restaurant Support Center in Tampa, Fla., where she’s held positions across the company’s Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s, and Outback Steakhouse brands in areas such as productivity, digital technology, and training.

She currently serves as the senior director of training and operations excellence for Outback Steakhouse, allowing her to collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement training programs. Her team also leads testing, training, and implementation of new initiatives — from menu rollouts to technology integrations and process improvements.

“No two days are the same, and that’s what I love about it,” McMickle said during a recent interview.

It’s certainly busy, but she recently added even more work to her plate, nonetheless — work that has since become more fulfilling personally and professionally than she ever could have imagined.

In 2021, Bloomin’ Brands launched Bloomin’ Balance, an employee resource group focused on employee health and wellness. McMickle served as the founding chair of the group, which has since grown to more than 800 members. Bloomin’ Balance shares wellness content through monthly newsletters and hosts a series called Courageous Conversations to foster open dialogue.

Through this work, she became involved with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and has led teams from Bloomin’ each year to participate in the Out of Darkness Walks in St. Petersburg and Tampa, Fla. The Bloomin’ constituency has grown each year while raising funds and awareness for suicide prevention.

“The efforts have created a safe space for our employees to share their personal stories and struggles,” McMickle said. “As a result, Bloomin’ Brands extended its Employee Assistance Program coverage to include additional sessions annually and (we made them) available to anyone in an employee’s household.”

The company has also hosted AFSP’s “Talk Saves Lives” program for the past two years — both in person and virtually — to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health struggles.

McMickle’s work here has continued to grow with the recent rollout of 988 awareness posters and wallet cards to all of Bloomin’s corporate restaurants across the United States. For the uninitiated, 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or what McMickle calls the mental health equivalent of 911.

“Only one in four people know about it,” she said. “That’s why Bloomin’ Balance led an initiative to distribute 988 awareness posters and wallet cards. The materials are displayed in team member communication areas and they’re also available for team members to take home. It’s a simple but powerful way to show we care and provide a lifeline to those who may need it.”

Indeed, more U.S. adults than ever need such a resource. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the prevalence of mental disorders has increased significantly in recent years, with nearly one-fourth of adults experiencing a mental illness. Further, according to the American Psychological Association, 50% of adults ages 18–34 reported a mental illness in 2023, versus 31% in 2019. That number is likely compounded among restaurant workers, who are most at risk for substance abuse disorders and heavy alcohol use, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association. Overall, foodservice is considered one of the worst industries for mental health, according to a 2017 report from Mental Health America.

“The hospitality industry is fast-paced and demanding, often with a ‘work hard, play hard’ culture. It’s a fun industry, but it’s also hard,” McMickle said.

Given such staggering numbers, perhaps it’s no surprise that this work is personal for McMickle, who said the more she’s become engaged in mental health awareness and suicide prevention, the more people have opened up to her about their own challenges. She’s also experienced loss personally and professionally due to suicide.

“I know the pain it causes. If my advocacy can help even one person feel less alone or get the help they need, it’s worth every effort,” she said.

McMickle’s objective is to continue growing this dialogue throughout the company and beyond, including the potential to collaborate with other restaurant companies to support industry workers on a larger scale.

“We’ve made great strides in just a few years, but there’s still more to do. The key is to keep the conversation going, reduce stigma, and make resources more accessible,” she said. “Studies show that 3-in-5 hospitality workers report struggling with their mental health. We can change that by truly listening to our people and creating a culture of care.”

Out of Darkness walks
McMickle and a team of Bloomin’ Brands employees will participate in the AFSP’s Out of Darkness walks, including Nov. 8 in St. Petersburg, and Dec. 8 in Tampa. More information, including registration and events in additional markets, is available online.

Contact Alicia Kelso at Alicia.Kelso@informa.com

Source https://www.nrn.com/restaurant-labor/how-bloomin-brands-is-leading-the-conversation-on-mental-health

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