Risk identification/assessment and proposed measures for the hotel and catering sector

• Many employees work alone, including in the evenings.
• Working alone includes all working situations where employees are alone
• Guests perceive the room as a personal space, and “forget” that employees are at work

• Women
• Young people
• Employees with minority backgrounds and poor Norwegian language skills
• Many temporary and part-time employees who are not aware of their rights and responsibilities

• Naked guests in the room
• Sexual advances
• Sexual remarks

• Conversations and training concerning unacceptable behaviour
• Rules for not entering hotel rooms while the guests are in the room or cleaning the room with the door closed
• Obligation to report any breaches
• The right to withdraw from difficult situations
• In case of breaches, the manager or duty manager must take over
• Clarification of how incidents should be reported   and what are the consequences for the guests

Risk

• It is difficult to call for help
• There is a greater danger of serious assault
• Increased risk when serving alcohol and when guests are intoxicated
• Nightshifts
• Quiet periods when employees are alone with untrustworthy or unpleasant guests or customers

Who are affected?

• Young (female) employees
• Employees with minority backgrounds and poor Norwegian language skills

What can happen?

• Assault
• Threatening behaviour
• Sexual remarks from guests or customers
• Sexual actions by guests or customers

Measures

• Possibility of calling for assistance
• Training staff to recognise unacceptable behaviour from guests or customers
• Obligation to report any rules that are breached
• Right to withdraw from situations (when possible)
• Clarification of how incidents should be reported and what are the consequences for the guests

• Serving alcoholic beverages
• Harassment is often tolerated because it comes from guests
• Intoxicated guests
• Evening and nightshifts
• Working alone
• Work at a private function

• Women and young employees
• Trainees
• Temporary/on call staff

• Sexual remarks from guests
• Sexual actions by guests
• Sexual remarks and advances from colleagues

• Training staff to recognise unacceptable behaviour from the guests and from their colleagues
• Training of colleagues to support new employees, extra-help employees and young women
• Refresher courses in connection with seasonal arrangements such as Christmas parties and office parties
• Obligation to report any rules that are breached
• Have agreement with a security firm – with regards to handling difficult customers/guests
• Clear/direct consequences and repercussions for customers

• Workplace culture with hierarchical, fast-paced environment          
• Evening shifts and irregular working hours
• Friendly off-duty environment

• Apprentices and trainees
• Young female employees

• Sexual remarks from colleagues or managers
• Sexual advances from colleagues or managers

• Open dialog and training on what is acceptable behaviour
• Special rules to protect apprentices and trainees
• Obligation to report any rules that are breached

• Dependency and subordination
• Evening shifts and irregular working hours
• Serving guests and customers
• Intoxicated guests
• Social settings in connection with work

• Young people
• Female employees
• Trainees

• Sexual remarks from colleagues or managers
• Sexual advances from colleagues or managers

• Special training on harassment for staff responsible for apprentices
• Address issues concerning negative culture in the department before the apprentice starts work
• Training of new apprentices on who they should notify if rules are breached