Sexual harassment was seen, primarily among women, as an inevitable occupational hazard. However, since 1986, sexual harassment has been recognized as a violation of federal law, yet it is still a common violation occurring towards both males and females, particularly in the hospitality and tourism industry (Calvasina, 2005). This essay explains what sexual harassment in the workplace is, as well as, what is classified as sexual harassment. There are numerous reasons as to why sexual harassment occurs, and all could be explained by natural sexual desire each person has (Poulston, 2016). However, the most predominate reasons throughout literature, which this essay also expands on further includes the use of dominance, as a way to diminish the
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Findings have indicated that employees are not reporting customer-perpetrated sexual harassment, due to the mentality that employees must “keep smiling regardless of the way one is treated by customers” (Good, & Cooper, 2014., & Gilbert, et al. 1998). Which stems from multiple reasons, such as feeling peer pressure, as all other workers may be acting a certain way in order to get more tips, resulting in the employee feeling as though they must act the same way, although, it makes them uncomfortable. Also pressure from managers creating an atmosphere of hierarchy, with workers at the bottom. Not only does this result in employees not wanting to reach out to higher authority, it also results in employees, ultimately vulnerable to sexual harassment, as customer spending is more important, then the employees well-being (Calvasina, 2005). For example, a customer, asked an employee out to dinner, upon feeling uncomfortable with the proposition, the employee asked her manager. The manager told their employee to “do whatever it takes to get this account". Whilst on the date, after consuming dinner, the employee began to feel dizzy and ill and eventually passed out. The employee awoke to find herself being raped by the customer (Calvasina, 2005). Therefore, managers should advise employees not to wear provocative, encourage refusal of requests for personal favours as well as, refusal of invitations that resemble dates (Worsfold, & McCann,
Findings have indicated that employees are not reporting customer-perpetrated sexual harassment, due to the mentality that employees must “keep smiling regardless of the way one is treated by customers” (Good, & Cooper, 2014., & Gilbert, et al. 1998). Which stems from multiple reasons, such as feeling peer pressure, as all other workers may be acting a certain way in order to get more tips, resulting in the employee feeling as though they must act the same way, although, it makes them uncomfortable. Also pressure from managers creating an atmosphere of hierarchy, with workers at the bottom. Not only does this result in employees not wanting to reach out to higher authority, it also results in employees, ultimately vulnerable to sexual harassment, as customer spending is more important, then the employees well-being (Calvasina, 2005). For example, a customer, asked an employee out to dinner, upon feeling uncomfortable with the proposition, the employee asked her manager. The manager told their employee to “do whatever it takes to get this account". Whilst on the date, after consuming dinner, the employee began to feel dizzy and ill and eventually passed out. The employee awoke to find herself being raped by the customer (Calvasina, 2005). Therefore, managers should advise employees not to wear provocative, encourage refusal of requests for personal favours as well as, refusal of invitations that resemble dates (Worsfold, & McCann,