Sexual harassment is all too common in hospitality and tourism. One Australian survey found almost half of the respondents had been sexually harassed, compared to about one in three in workplaces more generally.
Hospitality and tourism are marked by intense and close interpersonal interactions and dismissive treatment by some customers, including verbal and physical aggression, bullying and sexual suggestions.
Workers who are young, female, low-paid and casual are especially vulnerable.
The scandals at the Merivale Hospitality Group and Sydney's Swillhouse restaurant are only the most recent.
The widely held view that "the customer is always right" gives customers power. The power imbalance is magnified where tipping makes up a substantial part of workers' earnings.
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