Linchi Kwok, Ph.D.

Sexual harassment in hospitality is often described as “part of the job,” especially for frontline workers such as housekeepers, servers, and front-desk staff. However, this belief reflects a long-standing failure, not a workplace reality that employees should accept. Hospitality roles require workers to interact directly with guests in private or semi-private spaces such as guest rooms, hallways, and service corridors. Despite this heightened risk, many hospitality businesses still lack effective reporting systems, consistent training, and protective technologies. As a result, harassment remains one of the most underreported and poorly addressed forms of workplace harm. The issue is especially severe in hotels. Housekeepers frequently work alone in guest rooms, with no witnesses and no ability to call for help if a guest acts inappropriately. According to surveys from UNITE Here and the Chicago hotel workers union, more than half of female housekeepers have experienced some form of se...

Introduction As someone who has worked in the food industry for the past three years, first at a small local café and now at Paris Baguette, I’ve seen how labor and safety laws protect workers in real time. It’s interesting to see how these rules actually play out on the job and how they shape our daily routines. The United States has a mixed reputation when it comes to sanitation and workplace standards, but compared to many other countries, we still have strong enforcement and awareness. I was reminded of a story from South Korea that made me think about what happens when those systems fail. The Paris Baguette factory accident in 2022 is a tragic example of how ignoring safety can lead to devastating consequences and reveals the importance of human resource management (HRM) in the food industry. The Paris Baguette Factory Accident In October 2022, a 23-year-old woman working at an SPC Group factory in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, was killed in a workplace accident. SPC is the parent...

Having spent the last decade growing and working at my family’s bakeries, I have become all too accustomed to the best and worst aspects of the industry. I went from an 8-year-old employee sampling our fresh bread to draw in customers to the Front of House Manager who trains new staff, handles customer complaints, and keeps day-to-day operations running as smoothly as possible. While the bakery feels like home, it has also taught me that small hospitality businesses often underestimate one of the most critical functions of the workplace: human resources. Unlike large, structured hotels, small businesses treat HR as an afterthought until a problem forces change. Over the years, I’ve noticed three major mistakes in HR that hurt employee morale, retention, and performance- and I want to share what steps we took to fix them. Mistake #1: No Real Onboarding Training is a big part of employee success, and small businesses often treat it as a one-time event that is easily forgotten. New hires...

As artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized how businesses recruit and select talent , job seekers must also adapt to this new reality. This week, we shift the focus from how companies and HR managers can lead the process to how job seekers can use AI strategically to enhance their success in the job application process while maintaining authenticity, integrity, and self-awareness. The Research Acknowledging AI’s significant impacts on various HR functions , particularly the hiring process, my coauthors, Drs. Ning-Kuang Chuang , Yung-Kuei Huang , and I published a viewpoint article in the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research . We discussed how job seekers can use AI tools strategically and responsibly throughout their job search. How Job Seekers Can Stand Out in AI-Assisted Hiring Job seekers who understand how AI systems operate across the hiring process can take greater control of their career search. Specifically, we propose six strategic ways to succeed: Se...

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized how we recruit and select talent . HR and hiring managers are no longer just recruiters. They are strategic supervisors of the whole AI ecosystem. The new challenge is to lead responsibly, ensuring that technology enhances rather than replaces human judgment. The Big Question In our recent publication in the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research , “Staying ahead: A critical assessment of the GenAI-assisted hiring process using the OECD AI Principles,” my coauthors Drs. Ning-Kuang Chuang , Yung-Kuei Huang , and I address the following question: How can hospitality and tourism (H&T) firms remain competitive, relevant, and compliant with the global AI standards (e.g., the OECD AI Principles)? How HR and Hiring Managers Lead AI-Assisted Hiring Responsibly AI has significantly improved hiring efficiency, from automating job postings and resume screening to scheduling and conducting job interviews and drafting job offers. Howev...