The research by VERiFAIR, an independent body that assesses workplace practices within hospitality businesses, found that 65% of respondents had experienced such behaviour at some point during their hospitality career.
Of those who had experienced it, 80% said it had happened within the past year.
The report, which can be viewed here, also found that just 44% of respondents believed their workplace had clear policies covering behaviour, conduct and staff wellbeing.
Of those respondents, only 36% said the policies were always followed in practice, equating to around one in six of all those surveyed.
Only 42% said they would feel comfortable raising concerns about workplace behaviour or culture, while 51% said they would not.
Frontline and junior employees were considerably less likely than senior managers and owners to feel comfortable raising concerns, at 31% compared with 63%.
The survey received responses from 3,140 hospitality workers across the UK and Ireland between 14 March and 21 July 2026.
Respondents were self-selected and worked across restaurant groups, independent restaurants, hotels, pubs and bars, catering and events, ranging from entry-level employees to owners.
One anonymous respondent said: “I think one of the biggest issues in hospitality is that behaviour which would be unacceptable in many workplaces is often brushed off as ‘just the industry’.”
“A responsible workplace shouldn’t just be something a business says it has,” says VERiFAIR founder Justine Murphy.
“I created VERiFAIR because responsible employment should be demonstrated in practice, not simply promised on paper. Hospitality deserves a standard that gives good employers a way to prove it, and their people an independent voice when it matters.”
Murphy, a chef talent manager and founder of private chef agency mymuybueno, launched VERiFAIR in May.
The body awards its standard to hospitality businesses that submit their workplace policies for independent assessment and demonstrate how they are implemented and maintained.
Participating businesses must also sign a pledge committing them to ongoing accountability and fair workplace standards.
Dorian, Humble Chicken, Teal by Sally Abé, Lyla and Ynyshir were among the first restaurants to receive verification.