We wanted to go beyond headlines, shaming and blaming, and focus on solutions to the everyday experiences of sexual harassment and gender-based violence that plague service workers. We sought input from our community, both staff and owners, and this is what we found out:
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One of the major contributing factors to this issue in the hospitality industry is the normalization of sexualized violence
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Managers of restaurants want to do something, but don't feel supported for the "how"
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This is a business based on reputation, most people don't feel comfortable taking risking that
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The precarious nature of the work make reporting difficult, inaccessible, and risky
How do we make change?
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Bad behaviors need to be called out, that's where allyship is helpful
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Access to supports that already exists
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Respect people's anonymity and boundaries
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Change the response from "That's how it is in my job", to "That's not okay in this job."
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Provide staff and management with the training they require for prevention
Together, we can start by doing the following:
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Believing employees when they disclose or report harassment
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Create a statement of principles or values that support an equitable work environment
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Start training staff and management on harassment and sexual violence