Entries by Sarah Lyons

Ms. Magazine: UNITE HERE Takes On Sexual Harassment in Chicago’s Hospitality Industry

“When UNITE HERE Local 1 in Chicago heard the story of a young server being sexually harassed by a male guest while working at a local casino, the labor union took action. Local 1 conducted a survey of nearly 500 women working as housekeepers, bartenders and servers within the state’s hospitality industry—then compiled and analyzed their findings and laid out policy recommendations in a new report entitled “Hands Off Pants On.” “

NPR: Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Threat To Victims, A Quandary For Bystanders

“‘Forty-nine percent of the housekeepers we surveyed said a guest had exposed themselves, flashed them or answered the door naked,’ says researcher Sarah Lyons.

Kasey Nalls, a cocktail waitress at a casino for 11 years, puts it plainly.

‘I always thought it was a serious issue,’ Nalls says. ‘I feel like we’re walking prey.'”

Medill News Service: STUDY FINDS WIDESPREAD SEXUAL HARASSMENT TOWARD CHICAGO’S FEMALE HOSPITALITY WORKERS

“Kasey Nalls was 23 when she started her first casino job in northwest Indiana, clad in a tight blue velveteen uniform, serving drinks as a cocktail waitress.

During her first shift, Nalls said a male patron approached and said: “I’ve got the cock, you’ve got the tail.”

According to a new study conducted by Chicago’s Unite Here Local 1, Nalls’ experience is common. After surveying nearly 500 female hospitality workers at dozens of hotels and casinos in the Chicago area, the study found 77 percent of female casino workers surveyed had been sexually harassed by a guest. Additionally, 58 percent of female hotel workers reported sexual harassment from patrons.”

WBEZ News: New Survey Points To Sexual Harassment Rampant In Casinos And Hotels

“A study called “Hands Off Pants On’ is detailing the sexual harassment of local hotel and casino workers. About 500 women surveyed say 58% of hotel workers and 77% of casino workers have been sexually harassed by male guests. For housekeepers, more than 45% of them surveyed say a guest is naked, exposes or flashes a female housekeeper when they answer the door. Those workers want panic buttons in the event that they are cornered or feel threatened by a guest. Casino workers say they’d like harassers banned from the premises.”

Chicago SunTimes: Sneed– “Hotel hell . . . “

“Watch for a panel discussion titled “Hands Off Pants On: Sexual Harassment in Chicago’s Hospitality Industry,” to be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at UNITE HERE Local 1, located at 218 S. Wabash St., which represents 15,000 hospitality workers in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
Moderated by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke, the panel will include sports columnist Julie DiCaro, who participated in the award-winning #MoreThanMean video; Chicago journalist Robin Robinson and Jorge Ramirez, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor.”

Reveal News: Why cleaning a hotel room makes you a target for sexual harassment

“And this month, UNITE HERE Local 1, a union that represents hotel workers, will issue a report about the state of sexual harassment in the industry. According to its survey of nearly 500 Illinois hospitality industry workers, 58 percent of hotel employees and 77 percent of casino workers said they’d been sexually harassed. Forty-nine percent of housekeepers said that a guest had opened the door naked, exposed themselves or flashed them.”