Strategies to prevent sexual harassment in the hospitality workplace in Sweden

Abstract

Abstract Background Sexual harassment is a problem at workplaces, particularly in the hospitality business. These workplaces are known for having a lot of challenges for the psychosocial work environment such as working hours, leadership and the relation to alcohol, but also being workplaces with a high risk for being exposed to sexual harassment, from managers, coworkers as well as from guests. Sexual harassment is a kind of gendered violence and a work environmental problem that needs to be prevented in order to reduce work-related stress. The aim of this study was to analyze strategies to prevent sexual harassment in the hospitality business. A second aim was to analyze factors in these kind of workplaces that constitute barriers to effective prevention strategies. Methods Twenty-five employees and managers in the hotel and restaurant business were interviewed individually about their experiences of sexual harassment and what kind of strategies they use to cope, prevent and counteract sexual harassment at their work places. Results The preliminary results indicate a broad range of preventive measures that employers and managers deploy, stretching from the arrangement of the physical environment to team-building activities and onto efforts aimed at creating a common value-system. Workers, on their part, strategize collectively for instance by close communication with each other regarding “difficult” customers. Furthermore, individual workers use their bodily resources and clothing, to counteract harassment and threatening situations. Conclusions There are several conflicting aims and contradictions inherent in this industry, e.g. in terms of profit and the expectations of service and hospitality towards guests, no matter of their behavior. There are also gendered expectations on staff that increases the risk for sexual harassment from managers, coworkers as well as guests that make preventive work more challenging than in other types of businesses. Key messages Sexual harassment in the hospitality business is more challenging than in other work places, and thus need specific prevention strategies in order to promote a healthy psychosocial work environment. As gendered hierarchies in the hospitality business put women at risk for sexual harassment to a higher degree than men, there is a need for increased gender awareness in the preventive work.