More than 5,000 U.S. hotels and resorts have begun offering employees security devices and training to help prevent sexual harassment — a problem that has gained prominence with the #MeToo movement and has been targeted by union leaders in Southern California. The news comes about a year after the top executives of Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, Wyndham and Hilton hotels held a joint news conference to promise they would address sexual harassment of hotel workers. said, 5,000 properties have offered their workers security devices, with the number of hotel companies committed to providing the devices and harassment training rising to 56 from 17. The problem of sexual harassment of hotel workers gained prominence in Southern California after Sandra Pezqueda, a dishwasher working for a temporary staffing agency at the ritzy Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, filed a lawsuit claiming she was fired for complaining about sexual harassment by her supervisor. Terranea was among the 39 hospitality companies that joined Marriott, Hyatt and other hotels with a promise to provide safety devices and training.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 07, 2019 21:33 UTC