Lost in the #MeToo movement are often the workers at the lower end of the income spectrum. When we turn on the news, we tend to hear about powerful men falling from grace for preying on colleagues and associates in high office towers. Sexual harassment anywhere is wrong, though it happens at every level and in every industry. At The Kaufman Law Firm, we know that one aspect of the #MeToo movement many people have not discussed is the reality that hotel workers are expected to put up with sexual harassment as they go about their daily routine work. This needs to stop, and some companies are coming up with a plan.
Most people do not realize how much hotel workers put up with on the job. One of the most disturbing issues they face is a constant barge of sexual harassment from guests. In the past, workers were expected to put up with this behavior and were often silenced by their supervisors. Making matters worse, many of those accused of sexual harassment are the supervisors themselves. Because many of these jobs are lower-income, many victims had no options when it came to reporting the abuse or quitting their jobs.
Now, more than 5,000 hotels and resorts in the US are offering their employees security devices and training to prevent sexual harassment. One of the ways that hotel owners are working to combat the problem is electronic devices, though it is not clear yet what kind. Some of these devices allow workers to call for help in isolated areas of hotels. Others only emit loud noises, such as whistles.
“It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s no guarantee to bring help unless it’s a real panic system,” said Kurt Petersen, spokesperson for Unite Here Local 11. They represent 30,000 workers in Southern California and Arizona.
The issue of sexual harassment of hotel workers gained prominence in the area after Sandra Pezqueda, a dishwasher working at eh Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment by her supervisor. Pezqueda was one of the several women recognized as “Persons of the Year” by Time Magazine in 2017 for helping to start the #MeToo movement.
If you or someone you care about has experienced sexual harassment at work, you should consider seeking legal assistance today. Whether the harassment was from a coworker or you were expected to put up with it from guests, you have rights. At The Kaufman Law Firm, our qualified and experienced team is going to work to secure the compensation you deserve. This can include:
If you need a Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney, you can contact us for a consultation by clicking here or calling us at 310-981-3404.