Young, Unpaid, and Undervalued? : Exploring Workplace Dignity Challenges for Hospitality Interns

The hospitality and tourism industry in Japan faces chronic labour shortages despite its critical contribution to national economic growth. Yet, concerns about low wages, lack of work-life balance, and job insecurity continue to affect the sector’s image. This study explores how internship trainees in Japan’s hospitality industry perceive and experience dignity at work. Using qualitative data from ten semi-structured interviews with hotel internship participants, thematic analysis identified four key dimensions that challenged interns’ sense of dignity: (a) Lack of support and guidance, (b) Inadequate leadership, (c) Inequitable compensation, and (d) Unsatisfactory working conditions. The findings highlight a significant gap between internship participants’ expectations for guided learning and hosting companies’ operational demands. Enhancing dignity at work is essential not only for ethical reasons but also for sustaining a motivated and resilient future workforce. The study calls for collaborative efforts among educators, industry practitioners, and policymakers to redesign internships that balance learning, fairness, and respect.