Hospitality workers across Northern Ireland are speaking out about the “horrendous” levels of harassment they face on the job, calling for immediate changes to protect staff, particularly in late-night venues.
Unite the Union is demanding a zero-tolerance approach to workplace harassment, alongside free transport for night-time economy workers, as part of proposed reforms to licensing laws. The call comes after multiple reports of sexual comments, unwanted advances, and degrading treatment of staff.
Nathan Young, branch secretary for Unite Hospitality, said the issues are deeply entrenched in the industry.
“These problems have been endemic for a very long time,” Young said. “People enter hospitality, often young and unsure of their rights—and face the same abusive conditions year after year, despite broader social awareness about gender equality and workers’ rights.”
The stories coming from the sector are shocking. In one workplace, chefs reportedly kept a list ranking front-of-house staff by perceived vulnerability to sexual assault. In others, workers reported being repeatedly propositioned by customers and colleagues, with little or no support from management.
“Some of it might start with comments,” Young explained, “but it escalates to truly appalling situations. And management often shrugs it off, especially if the behaviour happens off-site or involves someone seen as valuable to the business.”
Ross Lopes-Lister, a fellow Unite member, said change is long overdue. “We think employers should be legally responsible for ensuring staff get home safely after late shifts. That should be written into every licence granted to hospitality venues.”
Activists and former hospitality workers agree. Eva Martin, from the feminist group Rosa, described a culture of silence and dismissal.
“This conversation is long overdue,” she said. “Most people in hospitality have a personal story of harassment, from inappropriate comments to unwanted physical contact. And it doesn’t just come from customers. Often, it’s colleagues, supervisors, or managers. Power dynamics make it difficult to speak out.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham made the union’s stance clear: “We are calling time on harassment. No worker should be abused or forced to walk home in fear.”
The union is now lobbying for legislative changes that would make safety and dignity a condition of operating in Northern Ireland’s night-time economy.
