Zero-tohlerance is on the menu

Campaign has been a great success and achieved broad media coverage in all the Nordic countries

Dear all

NU HRCT would like to thank everyone that has supported our campaign about taking sexual harassment off the menu. The aim of the campaign was to raise awareness about this serious issue, create safe workplace for all hotel and restaurant workers and a culture of zero-tolerance in the industry. 

Sexual harassment is part of everyday life for many workers in the hotel and catering industry all around the globe. It is terrible and nobody should be subjected to it. Sexual harassment, abuse and assault is NEVER acceptable.

Hotel and restaurant workers have been telling their stories for years. Sexual harassment, including unwanted attention or intimidation of a sexual nature, appears to be experienced widely in the industry. In surveys conducted by our member unions illustrate that around between 35% of all workers in the hotel and restaurant sector have experienced sexual harassment, and the number is closer to 60% for women working in frontline service such as waiters, baristas and bartenders. In most cases the perpetrators were customers, although co-workers or superiors were to blame in many cases.

This year our campaign focused on inappropriate behavior from customer around the Christmas period at popular gathering, where friends, co-workers and families go out together to restaurants or bars to celebrate and have fun. Still, it is too common that during those gatherings excessive amount of alcohol is consumed and service personal are faced with unwanted sexual advances, groping, inappropriate comments and other sexual harassment from guests in relation with gatherings.

Our WE ARE NOT ON THE MENU campaign has been a great success and achieved broad media coverage in all the Nordic countries, both in social media and traditional media. With all the support, tools and information our members have been empowered through this campaign. 

In Norway, Sweden and Denmark our member organizations have received support from employer associations, which have raised the issue among their member companies and worked closely with us by putting zero-tolerance for sexual harassment on the menu. In coming months, we will have dialogue with employers how to continue this excellent cooperation for safer workplaces.

We believe that there is a shift coming soon, as employers are beginning to accept that a cultural change is needed in the workplace and witnesses to sexual harassment realize that they should not accept the current culture. We have experienced increased awareness from customers and guest that inappropriate behavior in hotels, restaurants and bars is NEVER OK.

The current campaign has come to an end, but the work continues. NU HRCT and its member unions will priorities this issue and the #notonthemenu campaign will return next year.

Big thanks for your support and we wish you all happy holidays.

Tina M. Madsen, President of NU HRCT
Kristjan Bragason, General Secretary NU HRCT