Sexual harassment crisis in hospitality: survey

A survey of hundreds of hospitality workers has found that 19 percent report being sexually assaulted at work.

Eighty-nine percent of respondents, predominantly young women, said they’ve been sexually harassed at work including facing humiliating and sexually suggestive remarks from customers, management and co-workers, as well as being bullied, groped and threatened.

One worker told of being drugged and raped by her employer.

Women made up 90 percent of those surveyed. Most respondents were under 34 years old, with about half (49 percent) younger than 24. The survey was conducted online by United Voice Victoria between January and March and included 306 hospitality workers.

Workers told hospitality union, United Voice, that the culture in hospitality is one where sexual harassment is relentless and normalised. Over 48 percent feel that their employer doesn’t take the issue seriously.

A survey respondent detailed the following experience:

“One night we were having drinks after work and my manager followed me into the women's bathrooms. When I went to close the cubicle door he used the next cubicle over to jump over the wall to try and get at me.”

Another said:

“I’ve been sexually harassed many times! Worst time was when a bloke was hitting on me. I was friendly but firm and told him I wasn't interested. He then told me he would find me and rape me. The boss only called the police because he walked out on a $200 bill. I was 17 and hid in the kitchen crying. They served him again another time a few months later.”

A third worker commented:

“At a caf I worked at they allowed a man to harass me during my shifts by coming in several times during the day, sometimes not ordering, but standing near the counter to stare at me and asking personal questions, they didn't want to start anything with him so I had to deal with it.”

The survey release comes as United Voice announces it will hold crisis meetings with workers and employers in an effort to make hospitality workplaces safer.

Jess Walsh, Victorian Secretary of United Voice, said the survey results were an indictment on the hospitality industry.

“The stories people have told us are horrible. Every day young women go to work feeling unsafe, in fear of being groped, humiliated or threatened by customers or managers,” she said.

“'The culture today in many venues seems to be 'if you don't like it you can leave' and 'if you speak up then don't come back'.

“Some employers put young workers’ safety and well-being well behind their customers' desire to have another drink. It's wrong and it's dangerous. Young workers' safety needs to come first second and third in the hospitality industry.

“This is the first experience of work for so many young people. Hospitality employers have an important responsibility to get it right for young workers. Lots do but so many are seriously letting their workers down. We want to work with those employers who are doing the right thing to tackle this issue head on.”

FAST FACTS: SEXUAL HARASSMENT SURVEY

• 89% have experienced sexual harassment at work
• 86% have felt unsafe, uncomfortable or at risk in their workplace

Sexual harassment in hospitality looks like:

• 87% reported experiencing sexist comments
• 85% reported comments on their body
• 84% reported sexual innuendo/insinuations
• 73% reported unwanted sexual advances
• 69% reported being touched inappropriately
• 49% reported being bullied
• 19% reported being sexually assaulted

Do you believe your employer takes sexual harassment in the workplace seriously?

• 48.2% No
• 36.5% Yes
• 15.3% Unsure

Type of employment

• 68% Casual
• 32% Permanent

Age

• 49% of respondents were under 24 years old
• 89% of respondents were under 34 years old
   

Gender

• 90% of respondents were female
• 8% of respondents were male
• 2% of respondents identified as ‘other’