Harassment culture in the restaurant industry: Francis Lam commentary

My daughter is going to college and works at a restaurant on weekends. She recently quit her job because one of the managers was sexually harassing her. She complained to one of the other managers but he wouldn't take any action. I am skeptical the restaurant industry will ever change but it certainly needs to.

This is interesting. It is very much a boys club especially when we talk about back-end and front-end. I remember working in a kitchen starting as a dishwasher and then moving up to the line after a few years and there is definitely some "locker-room talk" and action. Even among the guys. No one was safe from the comments and ridicule. Also, the women in the environment would give as much as they take, but in retrospect I don't know if it was done in the same manner as we were doing it, or if that was sort of a protective shield. It is hard to describe really, but I think people know where I am coming from.

And yes, when you are young it is nice to be accepted and you give and take with everyone, but there were definite comments that were over the line (racist, sexist, harassment, embarrasment). At least a few of the chefs had the decency to say it under their breath and not directly to the people they were commenting about.

Thank you for the great share, it is a shame that waitresses have to put up idiots, the one I know are really good at their job.