In California, the sexual harassment and assault of housekeepers has increased daily at an alarming rate. Safety of hotel staff has become a liability and major concern. Technology in the form of a panic button can provide a solution to ensure the protection of cleaning staff.
Alt: California - Panic Buttons for Housekeepers
What is Panic Button?
Designed and developed in order to provide safety in emergency situations, the panic button is a small portable electronic device that hotel cleaning staff can carry with them at all times.
If the hotel cleaning staff finds herself in an unfavorable or contentious situation, she can activate her panic button to notify hotel security and local law enforcement.
Panic buttons can be stored in pockets or on keychains and integrated with smartphones and personal computers where the alert is received.
Alt: California - Panic Buttons for Housekeepers - Panic Button
Surveys on Sexual harassment cases in California hotels:
A 2016 survey found that fifty-eight percent of hotel cleaning staff suffered from sexual harassment by guests. An even higher number go unreported. “Ninety-six percent of housekeepers surveyed said they would feel safer if they were equipped with a panic button.”
Advantages of panic buttons:
Employers are responsible for their employees safety. If an employee is injured, they can sue the employer and the employer can be held liable for placing the employee in a situation without proper backup or security. Providing panic buttons can significantly reduce the chances of an assault or the degree to which an employee is assaulted. Panic buttons can also provide an additional layers of security and safety to both housekeepers and guests. Knowing that housekeepers are equipped with a panic button may deter harassers and attackers.
Alt: California - Panic Buttons for Housekeepers - More Security
Chicago and Seattle recently passed ballot measures requiring hotel owners to provide panic buttons to hotel workers free of charge. In California, Assembly Bill 1761 was introduced for the safety of hotel workers. If passed, California will become the first state to require panic buttons for their workers who work alone in hotel or guest rooms free of charge. Guests accused of sexual harassment will be banned from entering the hotel for three years.
Hotel Workers have a right to feel safe at their workplace. Panic buttons for housekeepers would be an essential step in keeping them safe and secure from any danger or harm. It is vital that employers create a safe environment for their employees so that they can work freely without the fear of being assaulted. A hostile environment creates tension, stress, and anxiety and is not conducive for a safe and productive working environment.
The panic button concept has spread widely because of its simplicity as compared to other safety products. Many cities such as Seattle have already adopted and implemented panic buttons for their workers. Housekeepers at Seattle hotels carry a GPS-integrated system along with alert functions. If hotel workers feel safe with panic buttons while doing work alone in guest rooms, it is the duty of employers to provide safety equipment or emergency alert systems to their employees.
