Despite the hospitality industry’s labor shortage, a study by Washington State University suggests that increased reliance on robots may not be the answer. The study found that employees’ fear of robots taking their jobs (robot-phobia) leads to increased job insecurity, stress, and intentions to leave. This impact is particularly pronounced among those who have worked with robotic technology. The study highlights the need for employers to carefully consider the introduction of robots and emphasize the complementary role of human workers to avoid a negative feedback loop that exacerbates the labor shortage.