Female pub staff expose ‘gross’ comments from male patrons

Female staff at a “working man’s pub” have exposed creepy remarks disguised as compliments male patrons hurl at them while doing their job.

Female staff at a “working man’s pub” have revealed they are fed up with creepy comments disguised as compliments that they cop from male patrons while doing their job.

Workers of The White Swan, a pub in the UK, took to social media to reveal some of the comments they get from men they’re serving simply while doing their job.

The women referred to the establishment as a “working man’s pub” in a TikTok video exposing the offensive remarks.

Among comments staff claim they have receive are “bend down love … slower”, “wanna earn that tip”, “those glasses make you look like a sexy secretary” and “you should wear that top more often”.

All the women looked unimpressed as they shared their experience of being harassed by male customers.

They explained some of the remarks came from men old enough to be their fathers.

In the comment section, many men bizarrely responded with a similar tune to those in the pub, while women staunchly defended the staff.

“I’m sure you’ll live, do like the glasses though,” one man said, defending the actions of the patrons.

Another said: “You love it really.”

“It’s how some guys compliment,” another suggested, with a second agreeing that all the comments were “compliments”.

“It’s just them having a laugh … bar staff near me always have a laugh back. You need to be able to banter to do that job 100 per cent,” one said.

The women revealed gross comments they were subjected to. Picture: TikTok/@thewhiteswan.hoddesdon

The women looked uncomfortable and fed up. Picture: TikTok/@thewhiteswan.hoddesdon

But despite the commenter saying staff at his pub laugh back with him, many women shared their own experiences in their local pubs — including feeling obligated to laugh along.

“Ask them to explain the jokes they make, tell them you don't understand why its funny, it makes them feel so uncomfortable,” one advised.

One added: “Then you awkwardly laugh and they say ‘it’s just a joke darling’.”

Others described men as “gross” or “feral”.

“Told our regulars that I was having IVF cause I found out I was infertile. One said ‘oh don’t worry about that love I’ll get you pregnant’ and the rest of them laughed,” another revealed.

One added: “The second one would have gotten me fired after he mysteriously ended up on the floor with a black eye.”

These comments aren’t just the experience of one group of female workers at one pub in the UK with similar experiences reported in workplaces around the world. So much so that there are organisations in Australia actively fighting against it.

Last year, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) introduced a legal framework called Positive Duty. This is to make businesses and organisations create preventive policies around sexual harassment, rather than deal with it after a complaint has been made.

AHRC sex discrimination commissioner Dr Anna Cody said upon its introduction: “Gender equality and respect are at the core of eliminating sexual harassment and other unlawful, systemically insidious behaviours from the workplace.

“The incoming, groundbreaking inclusion of a positive duty is a systemic response to an ongoing problem.

“It requires organisations and businesses to take reasonable steps to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place. This is far more effective than any reactive approach.”

Female pub staff have shared their experience of work. Picture: TikTok/@thewhiteswan.hoddesdon

Complaints about sexual harassment in the workplace can also be made to each state or territories’ Safe Work organisation. In the last financial year, Safe Work NSW had more than 100 reports of sexual harassment in the workplace made to the.

“Workplace sexual harassment is unacceptably common in Australia and is significantly underreported. According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, one in three Australians have experienced sexual harassment at work in the five years up to 2022 but less than one-in-five have made a formal complaint,” a Safe Work NSW spokesperson told news.com.au.

“Some workers are significantly more likely to experience workplace sexual harassment than others. This includes women, people with a disability, young people (18-29) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“Workplace sexual harassment can have significant impacts on workers – including psychological and physical harms, such as stress, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. It can negatively affect staff recruitment and retention, business productivity and the broader community.

“In NSW, sexual harassment-related workers compensation claims totalled an estimated $16 million in the 2022 financial year.”

The comments were often sexualised. Picture: TikTok/@thewhiteswan.hoddesdon

Many men defended the comments made as 'compliments'. Picture: TikTok/@thewhiteswan.hoddesdon

The organisation has several approaches to addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. Inspectors can review a business’s policies and interview staff. If a business doesn’t meet its obligations, Safe Work NSW can force compliance.

“Workplace sexual harassment occurs in every industry and at all levels,” a Safe Work NSW spokesperson said.

“Common types of workplace sexual harassment include unwelcome sexually suggestive comments or jokes, intrusive questions about a person’s private life or physical appearance, unwelcome touching, hugging, cornering or kissing.

“Certain workplace characteristics, practices and settings may place some workers at greater risk of sexual harassment and present barriers to reporting it.”

These include gender inequality in workplaces and highly hierarchical businesses where people feel they can’t speak up. Night work where there is irresponsible use of alcohol and drugs and work driven by customer service is also an area that makes people more vulnerable to this.

The spokesperson reminded people that help is available and anyone with concerns can contact Safe Work anonymously.