Sexual Harassment within the Hospitality Industry Essay Example

with million-dollar payouts also possible. These issues have an adverse impact not just on the victim but also on the overall enterprise.

The event can cause setbacks for the business and create negative emotions between employees and management. Employees may experience trauma and choose to take time off or leave their job, leading to increased turnover. It is important for restaurant owners and managers to develop a proactive plan to prevent sexual harassment lawsuits, especially in a litigious society like today.

It is the duty of owners and management to inform employees about sexual harassment policies. Policymakers must establish protocols that prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace, as well as procedures for filing complaints and implementing changes and penalties for offenses. The hospitality industry's Human Resource Management should improve its policies on sexual harassment. Employers are responsible for protecting their workers from this pressing issue.

Human Resource Management in the hospitality industry is accountable for enforcing a policy that prevents sexual harassment, particularly towards female waitresses. This obligation applies to all parties affiliated with the company, including owners, employers, managers, supervisors, employees, job applicants, clients and suppliers. The policy must explicitly state what actions or behavior qualify as sexual harassment or unwelcome conduct and describe its characteristics.

It is crucial to distinguish between tolerable and unwelcomed behavior, as well as recognizing when such behavior crosses the line. Individuals who experience abuse should explicitly express that the conduct is unacceptable, while perpetrators must acknowledge their wrongdoing. Sexual harassment can manifest in various forms, spanning from verbal to physical abuse - including inappropriate touching or even attempted rape. According to Hotel and Restaurant News (2004), the restaurant industry has allowed sexual

harassment at work due to inadequate policies regarding such misconduct.

The industry failed to establish specific protocols for addressing inappropriate behavior, leading the company to disregard the severity of the issue. The actions of the offenders infringed upon the rights and devalued the respect of female workers. With an effective and stringent management approach, these types of employee issues could be lessened or avoided altogether.

Both employees and management need to work together and make a genuine effort to prevent all forms of harassment and protect their staff.