New Chicago law enacted to protect hotel housekeepers from harassment
A new city law now requires all hotels in Chicago to install panic buttons to protect housekeeping staff from sexual harassment.
The Chicago city ordinance comes into force after a 2016 survey of nearly 500 housekeepers found more than half had faced harassment from guests.
"They’ll be able to push a button if they feel threatened, and that’s real important when you work by yourself, and you have to deal with some of the issues that society has kind of swept up under the rug," said Alderman Michelle Harris.
"When they open up the door, that’s when they all expose themselves and no one wants to be treated that way," said hotel housekeeper Claudia, who only gave her first name, and has worked at a city hotel for the past 28 years.
"We don’t’ want to be afraid when we come to work."
She was one of many housekeepers attending an event at City Hall to launch the new ordnance and to bring awareness to the issue.
To make sure the message gets across, the event had a distinct anti Harvey Weinstein theme.
Many of Weinstein’s alleged sexploits took place in hotel rooms.
Union officials said only about one in three incidents of sexual or other harassment are reported to hotel management.
Hotels have two months to install panic button systems and bring in anti-sexual harassment policies.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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