Recent research has uncovered a shocking reality: more than 70% of women employed in the restaurant industry have faced sexual harassment while on the job. Despite the already challenging work environment characterized by low pay, demanding conditions, and difficult customers, this alarming statistic reveals yet another layer of mistreatment.
A collaborative study conducted by scholars from the University of Notre Dame, Penn State University, and Emlyon Business School in France has shed light on the pervasive nature of sexual harassment in restaurants. Following earlier findings from Social Science Research Solutions (SRSS) in January, which indicated that 71% of female restaurant staff reported experiencing harassment, the new research explores the mechanisms behind this troubling trend. Notably, while customers often perpetrate such harassment, managers, supervisors, and even restaurant owners are also implicated.
The studies highlight two prevalent practices in the U.S. restaurant industry—tipping and the expectation to provide cheerful service—as contributors to this hostile environment. “The dependence of service employees on tips and the pressure to maintain positive interactions create a power imbalance that can embolden customers to engage in harassment,” stated Timothy Kundro, a professor at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. “Our findings illustrate that the combination of tipping and the need for friendly behavior intensifies the potential for harassment. When these elements are absent, customers tend to feel less empowered.”
In the first phase of the research, 92 full-time restaurant workers were surveyed about their income reliance on tips and their encouragement to foster friendly customer interactions. The second phase involved 229 men participating in an online experiment, where researchers scrutinized their behavior in tipping scenarios involving female servers. Unsurprisingly, the results indicated that men often felt justified in treating women servers poorly, particularly in contexts that encouraged tipping.
To address this issue, researchers advocate for fundamental changes, such as ensuring servers receive a fair wage that diminishes their reliance on tips, as well as reconsidering the cultural norm of “service with a smile.” “Our research indicates that fair wages and the removal of tipping can balance the power dynamics between service workers and customers,” explained Kundro. “Organizations can also minimize the requirement for positive displays of emotion.”
In summary, it is evident that female restaurant employees deserve a workplace free from harassment and abuse. For further insights on related topics, check out this blog post about home insemination.
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Summary:
Over 70% of women in the restaurant industry have faced sexual harassment, with studies indicating that the reliance on tips and the expectation to provide friendly service contribute to this culture. Researchers suggest that implementing fair wages and eliminating the tipping system could help reduce the power imbalance and harassment.
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