There isn’t an occupation that’s free of sexual harassment. Still, restaurant workers tend to be subjected to it more often than others.
In fact, one study found that 90% of women and up to 70% of men who work in this industry have indicated that they’ve been subjected to sexual harassment on the job. Some of this comes from co-workers, but it’s also spurred by customers, especially when employers fail to step in to protect their employees.
Why is sexual harassment so common in the restaurant industry?
There’s no one cause of sexual harassment in the restaurant industry. Instead, those who work in a profession in this field could be at risk due to any of the following:
- Tip-based income: Since many servers rely on tips to make a decent living, they don’t have much incentive to shut down harassing behavior perpetrated upon them by customers.
- “The customer is always right” mentality: To boost sales and thus profits, many restaurants assume that the customer is always right and will go well out of their way to ensure that their customers have a positive experience, even if that’s at the expense of their employees’ safety and well-being.
- High turnover: The restaurant industry has a high turnover rate, meaning that those who are subjected to sexual harassment tend to simply leave their jobs rather than reporting problematic behavior.
There are other causes of sexual harassment in the restaurant industry. So, make sure you’re staying aware on the job and taking action to head off any improper behavior that’s being exhibited towards you.
Have you been subjected to sexual harassment in your restaurant job?
If so, then you shouldn’t let your employer get away with it. Instead, consider taking legal action so that you can find accountability, recover compensation, and deter your employer from engaging in harmful behavior against other employees. We know that can be daunting to think about, but you can ease your fears by learning more about the legal process and what it can do for you.