Hassel Aviles
Executive Director of Not 9 to 5
Hassel Aviles has built a career in the hospitality and foodservice industry for over two decades working primarily in restaurants, event production and entrepreneurship. In 2018, after years of struggling with mental illness and workplace trauma, Hassel was inspired to co-found Not 9 to 5, a non-profit that empowers service workers like herself. Hassel’s strategic planning abilities helped grow Not 9 to 5 from a series of workshops, panels and webinars into a global vehicle for change to foster psychological safety in the workplace. Her award-winning work has contributed to a worldwide hospitality revolution to create work environments that are inclusive and proactive, rather than top-down and reactive.
Hassel has used her lived experience and social capital to create industry-specific solutions and support for workplace mental health in the hospitality industry and beyond with partners that include James Beard Foundation, Tourism HR Canada, CMHA BC and more!
In 2021, Not 9 to 5 was successfully approved for a federal grant to support “Mind Your Health” a research and knowledge mobilization project focused on mental health and substance use support for workers in bars, restaurants and hospitality. Hassel led this initiative to develop CNECTed, a groundbreaking first-of-its-kind workplace mental health certification course. Then in 2022, this work won Hassel a Workplace Mental Health Award for Best Individual Contribution on behalf of Not 9 to 5 by Charity Village.
Most recently, Not 9 to 5 has produced short films and a podcast to humanize the struggles faced in restaurants. One of the short films was rated 5-stars and shortlisted for “Short of the Year” by Short Film Matters. The podcast called “We Have Lived” is hosted by Hassel Aviles and discusses the lived experience of workplace mental health in restaurants and hospitality. It features Michelin chefs, award-winning restaurateurs, food writers and various other industry leaders.
