Sexual behaviour and harassment in hospitality: 'just good fun - nothing serious'

This study examines hospitality workers’ comments about sexual behaviour in hospitality to help understand the relationship between their attitudes to sexual behaviour and the nature of harassment. The traditions of sexual behaviours are discussed, along with the nature of hospitality work, workers’ characteristics, the customer’s role and the preoccupation with meeting customer’s needs. Customer contact is found to be a firm predictor of sexual harassment, but the characteristics of staff and the traditions of the industry are also considered important causes