Workers in the hotel and restaurant industry: We are not on the menu

Hotel, restaurant, catering and tourism workers often experience sexual harassment.

According to an inquiry to service personnel made by Service Union United PAM in year 2015, almost 50 percent of all workers in the tourism industry had experienced sexual harassment by clients (commonly among younger workers and serving and restaurant personnel).

During the Christmas period workers are more likely to face unwanted sexual advances such as groping and inappropriate comments. They want to remind everyone of the fact that they are not on the menu. Service personnel in the Nordic countries are in co-operation with their unions organizing a campaign against sexual harassment in the industry during Christmas. By initiating this campaign they want raise awareness about a culture of zero tolerance against harassements at work.

– Nobody should have to endure any kind of violations at work. It is foremost the employer, who is responsible for preventing unpleasant behaviour or sexual harassments in the work environment. We are all responsible actors. As guests, it is essential to be courteous and behave appropriate towards workers. As work mates, we should support those who regardless are beeing harassed, says Jaana Ylitalo, PAM’s Collective Bargaining Director.

She points out, that erasing sexism is continious work and it demands for collaboration with other partners in the industry.

The campaign is organised by NU HRCT and its member organizations Service Union United PAM, 3F - Danmarks Stærkeste Fagforening, Hotell- och restaurangfacket, Starfsgreinasamband Íslands, Fellesforbundet.

#notonthemenu #neverok #aldrigok #metoo #vikokaröver #EikoskaanOK

The campaign page is found on Social Media

A report on sexual harassment in hotel, restaurant and tourism industry in the Nordic countries