May New hospitality survey shows signs of improvement alongside persistent employment issues

Study reveals strong worker commitment alongside ongoing concerns over pay, conditions and wellbeing

A new survey of hospitality workers in Ireland has found strong levels of pride and commitment, but breaches of employment rights and high levels of stress, burnout, and poor workplace conditions across the sector.

The findings are based on 736 responses collected from hospitality workers in Ireland in 2025 – the largest independent study of its kind to date.

The research was led by University of Galway and forms part of a wider global project examining hospitality working conditions across multiple countries.

Despite positive attitudes towards work and strong confidence in skills, the survey reports continued breaches of basic employment rights among some workers, including pay below the minimum wage, unpaid hours and missing employment documentation.

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.

Dr Deirdre Curran, J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at University of Galway, led the research: “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.

“Our intention is to provoke evidence-based discussions leading to positive change for all. 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.”

Key findings include:

Despite Ireland’s suite of employment legislation, results show that some hospitality workers continue to lack basic employment rights:

• 6% of respondents stated they were paid below the minimum wage
• 11% claimed that they were not paid for every hour worked 
• 22% had not received a written statement of the terms of their employment 
• 13% did not receive regular detailed pay slips

Respondents reported high levels of engagement with their work, alongside significant wellbeing challenges.

• 96% agreed/strongly agreed that they ‘care about being useful and productive’
• 91% agreed/strongly agreed that they had ‘the skills to do their job with confidence’
• 73% agreed that they ‘enjoy their work environment’ 
• 72% felt they were ‘treated with dignity and respect by their managers’ (less so by customers)
• 64% agreed/strongly agreed that they felt ‘emotionally drained’ by their work
• 71% stated that they felt ‘used up’ at the end of their workday
• 53% had witnessed bullying or harassment
• 38% said they had experienced bullying or harassment

The report also examines the types of behaviour reported, along with who is most likely to be responsible and how incidents are handled in the workplace.

The report covers the full range of working conditions in hospitality, including the demands placed on both employees and employers, as well as factors that attract workers to the sector and those that contribute to turnover.

While the findings are indicative rather than representative, they provide a strong evidence base and the report includes recommendations aimed at addressing systemic issues and supporting more sustainable working conditions for both employees and employers.

The research team was led by Dr Deirdre Curran at University of Galway’s J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, and includes Dr Maeve O’Sullivan, Dr Áine Ní Léime and Olaiwola Ogunpaimo, University of Galway; Anastasia Kulichyova, Queen’s University Belfast; and Kevin Ward, Technological University of the Shannon.

The project is part of the Global Hospitality Research Alliance, which examines working conditions in hospitality sectors across the Global North and Global South.

The full report is available at https://researchrepository.universityofgalway.ie/server/api/core/bitstreams/391e4cb7-1d0f-4f63-8200-930df80fc579/content  

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