Hotel Panic Buttons: How Do They Work and Why are They Essential for Hotels?
According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 90 percent of housekeepers are women. While in the process of performing their essential duties, these women are subjected to a high level of violence and sexual harassment. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), each year 2 million people report being victims of some type of workplace violence. Workers who work alone or work late at night are more at risk of becoming victims of workplace violence. And due to the nature of their jobs, hotel employees are required to come in contact with guests and are also required to work late hours and to work over night.
Why Are Hotel Panic Buttons Essential?
Hotel employees working in guestrooms perform physically demanding work that is crucial to the hotel operation. Guestroom attendants are required to vacuum, clean bathroom floors and clean all areas of the bathroom. Remove sheets, remake beds and dispose of used linens and garbage, just to name a few. Most are assigned several rooms to work in during their shift and they have the right to feel safe and protected during the course of their jobs. Surveys across the globe reveal that housekeepers are sexually assaulted at twice the rate as those in other industries. A 2016 study found that 58% of hotel workers disclosed that they had been sexually harassed or assaulted during the course of their work. A hospitality survey conducted in the UK found that 86% of responders had experienced one or more incidences of sexual harassment while at work. The safety of those in the hospitality industry is of concern, as a 2016 report found that 9 out of 10 hospitality workers suffered some type of abuse during their dealings with guests. In many cities and states, hotel panic button laws require hotels to provide their employees with panic buttons to ensure their safety while at work.
