“Everything was always about sex”

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Almost half of workers in the hospitality industry have been victims of bullying. And about a third have been sexually harassed. This is the result of a recent survey by Unia.

The same happened to Chloé*, Julia*, Mary* and Isabel*. Four women describe their ordeal to the Geneva newspaper “Le Courrier”.

“He was talking about sex all the time. Everything always revolved around him,” said Chloé* about her boss at the time. She came from Spain and didn’t know that her work entitles her to a work permit. The team leader took advantage of this brutally.

Julia felt the same way. She also came to Geneva without documents, she. For a year and a half she worked seven days a week, without notice, for a wage of ten francs an hour. When he rejected his boss’s offers, the boss responded with threats, insults, and beatings.

Mary and Isabel are also familiar with such situations. The report stated that they work for the same fast food chain. Mary was bullied by a group of coworkers. She’s finally fired, she. And Isabel was sexually abused by her manager. This was his first job.

almost no help

The Unia survey shows that these are not isolated cases. Only about 260 people took the survey between February and April. “However, it clearly shows where the biggest perceived problems in the industry lie,” the Unia website writes. Employees are difficult to reach, according to the union.

Another big problem: If abuse did occur, less than a quarter of those affected received help from their superiors. Three quarters fell on deaf ears.

However, it is not only dealing with the employees but also the working conditions that make the work of those working in the catering sector difficult.

As required by law, only a third of respondents receive their work schedule two weeks in advance. 65 percent also say that holidays or even vacation days are canceled if there is a lot of work to be done.

Not all hours worked are paid

Wages are also a big issue: 40 percent think their wages are too low. And 43 percent think they should earn more with their performance. Almost a third report that not all hours worked are paid.

With the manifesto “We want to live with dignity!” Unia therefore demands better working conditions. The document submitted to the Gastrosuisse employers’ association at the end of February contains a total of eleven requests. Unia collected 10,000 signatures for it.

*Name changed

Source :Blick