New University of Galway research on the Irish hospitality sector has found breaches of employment rights and high levels of stress, burnout, and poor workplace conditions across the industry.
The findings are based on 736 responses collected from hospitality workers in Ireland in 2025 as part of a wider global project examining hospitality working conditions across multiple countries.
The survey found continued breaches of basic employment rights among some workers, including pay below the minimum wage, unpaid hours and missing employment documentation.
Researchers said the data suggests a persistent gap between the demands of the industry and the supports available to workers, reflecting long-standing issues affecting retention, wellbeing and performance.
According to the study, 6% of respondents stated they were paid below the minimum wage, 11% claimed that they were not paid for every hour worked and almost a quarter said they had not received a written statement of the terms of their employment.
More than half of respondents said they had witnessed bullying or harassment, 38% said they had experienced bullying or harassment, and 71% said they felt 'used up' at the end of their workday.
There were also signs of strong worker engagement, pride and commitment with 96% saying they care about being useful and productive, and three quarters agreeing that they enjoy their work environment.
"These results will be of direct interest to policymakers, employer representative bodies, trade unions, employers, students and teachers of hospitality and employment relations, and those working in hospitality," said Dr Deirdre Curran, from the JE Cairnes School of Business and Economics at University of Galway.
"Our intention is to provoke evidence-based discussions leading to positive change for all," she added.
"We have a responsibility to the people who shared their experiences with us, to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are placed at the centre of discussions on the future of the sector," Dr Curran said.
The project is part of the Global Hospitality Research Alliance, which examines working conditions in hospitality sectors across the Global North and Global South.
