The recent arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, former head of the IMF for sexually assaulting a hotel housemaid got me thinking about the New Zealand hospitality industry and the potential exposure of NZ workers to inappropriate behaviour during the Rugby World Cup.
The housemaid involved in the Strauss-Kahn case is a union member, which makes all the difference. But by far the majority of hotel workers in New Zealand are not union members.
Sadly, the further you go down the hospitality chain, from large hotels to motels, restaurants and bars, the worse it is.
New Zealand’s laws protect workers against sexual harassment, but it’s a hard row to hoe. There are two routes – through the Human Rights Commission or through personal grievance. New Zealand’s hospitality industry is repsonsible for 10% of all workplace sexual harassment complaints to the Human Rights Commission, but I know from experience that’s the tip of the iceberg. It’s just not that easy to take this on.
If you are a young worker, not in a union, new to a job, on a 90 day trial period, are you really going to have the courage to challenge your employer if a sexual harassment incident occurs?
There’s an attitude issue here. The Hospitality Industry is not only responsible for the behaviour of their staff, but also their customers and clients. To their credit, some work has been done in the industry to educate employers about their responsibilities.
I came across this comment from the Restaurant Association in a newsletter about sexual harrasment.
I accept that some people will regretfully be sexually harassed, but at the risk of being challenged, I have formed the opinion that the majority of complaints are motivated by the monetary rewards that might result.
According to this, there’s a golden pot of money waiting for workers who complain about sexual harassment!
However, it’s not just about sexual harassment. It’s also about decent pay and fair conditions.
The government needs to work with unions and business to set standards for how we expect New Zealand workers to be treated during an event like this.
We want our visitors to have a great time, but not at the expense of New Zealand workers.
The Restaurant Association’s attitude is disgusting. The suggestion by those in charge of industries that people who complain about sexual harassment are making it up for financial gain is exactly what drives the culture of victim-blaming we have in New Zealand.
Sexual assault is never ok, but to create a nexus with not being assaulted and being in a union is a long stretch on a short bow.
I’m trying to sort out how these worker protection laws are going to apply to the hundreds or volunteers that the RWC people are trying to find.
It’s a New Zealand responsibility : NZ employers, NZ government – now and at any time.
Yes, I’m sure many a young hospitality worker dreams of striking it rich by laying a false harassment claim! My god, who wrote that drivel?
Oliver
Unions make individuals stronger. The individual is still an individual but now has a support group when needed.
People who attack the vulnerable first check that their victim is vulnerable. That’s what abusers do.
Unionised workers with a strong support group behind them are not vulnerable providing the message is spread loud and long to anyone visiting our country; our workers are valued in New Zealand.
Workers of New Zealand make their own decision to join a union or not and if they believe their individual word means anything when this government considers their rights over that of foreigners, more fool them – remember Warner Bros.
“remember Warner Bros.” – Oh that’s right, the union was trying to get rid of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars for our economy…
Even Celia Wade Brown turned out to protest against Helen Kelly’s stupid little games! Just because Helen doesn’t care about people having jobs, unless they have them them under her mantra of what a job should entail.
Rewriting history again Oliver? Helen Kelly has been shown to be truthful and she has integrity, as accepted by the exposure of the facts.
Oliver – Your bs is so facile it’s not worth arguing with.
The Oliver 1(s) of this world spread disinformation and downright lies… or they are profoundly ignorant.
Emails released by the NZ Herald just before Xmas proved beyond doubt that Helen Kelly had not only told the truth, she acted with strength and – as Ianmac has already said – much integrity.
Shame the same could not be said of many of the protagonists (including political) on the other side of the fence!
Oliver seems to be overlooking Mr Jackson’s plummeting in the recent poll of NZers NZers trust.
Oliver I does not address those emails or facts he prefers the gerry brownlee deceptive and misleading version
union people sho8uld know their rights but it is a tough row to hoe and somuch apathy out there and everyone is having a tough time at present
Yes, young people, particularly young women, are most vulnerable to this sort of behaviour. What makes it worst is National’s brilliant law which allows employers to sack at will, for no reason, before 90 days. Think about the many hundreds of young women who will be forced to put up with filthy language, offensive behaviour and groping because any objections will probably lead to instant dismissal. Can anyone honestly say that this world cup is actually about the rugby? Bull! its main purpose is the vending of copious amounts of alcohol to make big profits for the hospitality industry. The mess will no doubt be cleaned up by the voluntary societies, AA, Women’s Refuge and, of course,the Police and Department of Courts.