Our Findings

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

• Managers of restaurants want to do something, but don't feel supported for the "how"

• This is a business based on reputation, most people don't feel comfortable taking risking that

• The precarious nature of the work make reporting difficult, inaccessible, and risky

How do we make change?

• Bad behaviors need to be called out, that's where allyship is helpful

• Access to supports that already exists

• Respect people's anonymity and boundaries

• Change the response from "That's how it is in my job", to "That's not okay in this job."

• Provide staff and management with the training they require for prevention

Together, we can start by doing the following:​

• Believing employees when they disclose or report harassment

• Create a statement of principles or values that support an equitable work environment

• Start training staff and management on harassment and sexual violence 

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