Sexual harassment in hospitality is often described as “part of the job,” especially for frontline workers such as housekeepers, servers, and front-desk staff. However, this belief reflects a long-standing failure, not a workplace reality that employees should accept. Hospitality roles require workers to interact directly with guests in private or semi-private spaces such as guest rooms, hallways, and service corridors. Despite this heightened risk, many hospitality businesses still lack effective reporting systems, consistent training, and protective technologies. As a result, harassment remains one of the most underreported and poorly addressed forms of workplace harm. The issue is especially severe in hotels. Housekeepers frequently work alone in guest rooms, with no witnesses and no ability to call for help if a guest acts inappropriately. According to surveys from UNITE Here and the Chicago hotel workers union, more than half of female housekeepers have experienced some form of se...
Introduction As someone who has worked in the food industry for the past three years, first at a small local café and now at Paris Baguette, I’ve seen how labor and safety laws protect workers in real time. It’s interesting to see how these rules actually play out on the job and how they shape our daily routines. The United States has a mixed reputation when it comes to sanitation and workplace standards, but compared to many other countries, we still have strong enforcement and awareness. I was reminded of a story from South Korea that made me think about what happens when those systems fail. The Paris Baguette factory accident in 2022 is a tragic example of how ignoring safety can lead to devastating consequences and reveals the importance of human resource management (HRM) in the food industry. The Paris Baguette Factory Accident In October 2022, a 23-year-old woman working at an SPC Group factory in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, was killed in a workplace accident. SPC is the parent...