Women in US service industry reveal sobering truth: Put up with sexual harassment or lose tips

A NEW report has revealed the shocking level of sexual harassment experienced by women working in the service industry.

Waitresses suffering abuse for tips

IT’S A bad time to be a woman in the US service industry.

A report independently conducted by the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) United called The Glass Floor: Sexual Harassment in the Restaurant Industry reveals the astonishing frequency of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Ninety per cent of women reported having been sexually harassed at their restaurant jobs.

The survey defines sexual harassment as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours and verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature”.

According to data from the (US) Bureau of Labor Statistics, women account for 66 per cent of tipped workers in the USA. Of the 688 workers interviewed by ROC in 39 states, 60 per cent of female and transgender employees identified sexual harassment as an “uncomfortable aspect of work life”.

The ROC identifies part of the problem as states that allow payment below minimum wage for tipped workers.

Because a waitress could likely go home with only several dollars in her pocket, she may feel the need to put up with inappropriate behaviour from customers for tips. She often can’t report sexual harassment for fear of losing her pay.

Frighteningly, the ROC reports that focus groups said sexual conduct is an “accepted” part of restaurant culture.

In order to make changes, the ROC recommends supporting politicians who campaign for one fair minimum wage across the service industry in the US.

As for servers, they need to take action. Creating and supporting a “work culture based on zero tolerance” will put the change into motion today.

This article originally appeared on Elite Daily and was republished with permission.