Beer and Balance: Strategies for Social, Mental, and Physical Wellbeing in the Craft Beer Industry

You and your employees' social, mental and physical wellbeing matter. The craft beer industry is in a time of reckoning with an all-time record of people leaving their jobs, and employers struggling to fill vacant roles. 1 in 5 employees left a job at some point in their career because of its toxic organizational culture. By one estimate, employee turnover triggered by a toxic culture cost U.S. employers nearly $50 billion per year pre-pandemic.

What makes a brewery’s culture toxic is often the elevated levels of stress, burnout, mental health issues and pain experienced at work or as a result of their work. While these types of experiences are often common, they are not talked about by and among peers in craft beer. The consequences of the endured pain and silence lead to disengagement in many forms. Two leaders in craft beer share their honest stories of quitting - leaving toxic behaviours, routines, and craft brewery cultures and finding their way to a balanced way of life working inside and living outside of craft beer. Where their identities are more than what they drink or the brewery they work for.

Dana Kaluzny (she/her) is a Facilitator, bringing people together for projects that matter and the Co-Owner and Founder of Endswell Beer, a small-batch brewery for people who love beer with people in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada.

Tom Halaska has almost 30 years of Food & Beverage experience, and community has always been at the heart of his programming. Currently the National Sales Director for Ritual Zero Proof Spirits, Tom’s focus is now on helping bar and restaurant owners to create a more inclusive beverage program for the modern drinker. Prior to his current role, as Global Brand Manager, Tom not only lifted WellBeing Brewing Company to the top of the Craft NA Beer category, but also helped create the national category itself.

Join us in-person for CBP Connects in 2023

Half workshop, half networking

Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023

Grab your spot now https://cbpconnects-milwaukee.eventbrite.com/