NS34 Workshop 34 - Registration needed

 

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Title: Making the invisible visible: A workshop on ethical microdilemmas in service and hospitality 

Organisers: Åsa Grahn and Marit Engeset

Affiliation: University of Stavanger, University of SouthEastern Norway 

Participation: Participants do not need to submit anything in advance, however, we kindly ask those who wish to attend to register for the workshop through the conference system (abstract submissions) so we can plan the session and group activities appropriately. 

 

Description

This workshop invites participants to engage with the often overlooked microdilemmas that shape the everyday ethical landscape of hospitality, tourism, and related service sectors. These are situations that often unfold beyond the scope of CSR reporting, policy statements, or sustainability frameworks—yet they have significant implications for the moral character and societal impact of our industries. Microdilemmas arise in the quiet, ambiguous spaces where frontline employees encounter behaviour, practices, or signals that do not fit neatly into existing guidelines but nevertheless raise important ethical questions. 

If our sector is to be recognised as an “agency for good,” we must be willing to acknowledge and discuss the uncomfortable realities that rarely enter public discourse. This includes recognising potential indicators of modern slavery, guesttoguest harms, and forms of sexual exploitation that may occur in or around hospitality settings, such as hotels, transportation hubs or massage premises. While these issues are sensitive and often hidden in plain sight, they form part of the lived experience of service workers who may sense that something is wrong but lack the training, framework, or organisational support needed to interpret or act on these concerns. 

The purpose of this workshop is twofold: first, to collectively unpack such microdilemmas and explore how they challenge existing notions of responsibility within our sectors; and second, to open a space for researchers who wish to engage with these difficult issues to connect with one another. As academics and practitioners, we hold a responsibility not only to study what is visible and easily reported, but also to address what is hidden, uncomfortable, and ethically demanding. These questions require interdisciplinary perspectives and collaborative approaches. 

Our ambition is to bring together likeminded researchers interested in forming a crossdisciplinary network—or potentially a new research group—dedicated to developing shared concepts, methods, and ethical frameworks for studying this challenging, yet vital, area of the service work.