Sexual Harassment within the Hospitality Industry Essay Example
Sexual Harassment within the Hospitality Industry Essay Example

Sexual Harassment within the Hospitality Industry Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (642 words)
  • Published: April 29, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Satomi Southward, a single mother who worked as a waitress at Megu restaurant, reported multiple instances of sexual harassment by the head chef and former line chef in the hospitality industry. The incidents included unwelcome sexual advances, malicious words, lascivious acts, and attempted rape. She is seeking $20 million in compensatory damages from the restaurant and accusing them of tolerating such behavior.

The ex-Line chef committed sexual assault against another woman, despite arguing that their actions were consensual because Southward had flirted with him. The president of the company refused to comment on the internal matter. Sexual harassment is more common in hospitality than any other industry due to social and job-related factors identified by Jerome Agrusa and Wendy Coats, who propose that employers often hire individuals with a "gregarious character" for restaurant roles.

The hospitality industry has experi

...

enced a shift as restaurants now provide not only food but also entertainment, which is attributed to the irregular work hours and social interaction. As a result, there's an atmosphere of relaxation that promotes colleague bonding, leading to more discussions and risque jokes. Unfortunately, these actions have negatively impacted the hospitality sector.

The problem of workplace trauma is a significant worry, particularly for females who face repeated incidents of sexual harassment from their male colleagues. This can lead to multiple unfavorable outcomes such as tarnishing the company's image and reputation, along with potential legal action against the business owner due to employee misconduct. Such legal disputes can bring about financial losses and disrupt the organization by necessitating payment for damages and compensation. According to Lye (2007), claim costs vary between $36,500 up to even higher amounts of $250,000 or more

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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.

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