86-ing Workplace Harassment in the Beverage Industry
By George B. Catallo
Nearly sixty percent of surveyed beverage alcohol industry workers have witnessed or experienced sexual harassment in the last year, according to a new report from RAINN in conjunction with 86 Harassment, a Women of the Vine and Spirits (WOTVS) key initiative. While this may be a sensitive and difficult topic to navigate, the only way we can make our industry a better and safer place is to look at the data head on.
RAINN and 86 Harassment conducted a survey of 154 members of the beverage alcohol and hospitality industries across 26 distinct job roles from all levels of company structure from bartenders up to CEOs. Nearly half of the respondents were from the hospitality industry and a quarter from suppliers and producers. 75% of respondents work for companies with fewer than 200 employees, 54% are companies with fewer than 50. The ratio of respondents that are employees or people in leadership positions is 2:1 and 83% of all respondents are from the United States. While this sample size may seem small, the results are very much in line with the findings of larger and more specific studies.
The survey showed that roughly four in ten respondents do not have confidence in the fairness of the reporting process for sexual harassment at their workplace nor their safety from retaliation. One respondent is even quoted as saying, “Past experiences at multiple establishments taught me three things: how to identify harassment, how to avoid doing it to someone else by accident, and to keep my mouth shut if it happens to me.” The report detailed that 58% say that they believed that their supervisor would allow them to take a break away from work after a difficult interaction, 63.17% believe that their company would protect reporters of sexual harassment from retaliation, and that 59.69% have confidence in the fairness of the reporting process.
While 37.33% of employee respondents had training about sexual misconduct in the last year, 32.67% reported never having this training at all. RAINN found a correlation between recency of training and higher confidence in their company’s resources for reporting sexual misconduct and ability to respond to these reports. Among leadership respondents, RAINN found the strongest correlation in their survey, the more recently a leader has received training the more confident they are in their ability to address a serious incident of sexual misconduct. Leaders that received training within the last 5 years rated their readiness at 80% up to 86% the more recently they’ve had their last training. Leaders that have received training greater than 5 years ago report only a 63% readiness, and those that have never received any training — only 40%.
The biggest takeaway from this survey is that there is a correlation showing that workplace sexual misconduct training seems to work. That is by no means the single solution to combating workplace harassment, but this data points to it being a good start. As one respondent stated, “I just want to be treated like a person, trying to do their job, and give a good experience.” Together we can make sure that everyone in our industry, and beyond, is able to be treated with respect and is given a safe environment.
Statement from Jessica St. Germaine, Executive Director of Consulting at RAINN
“The collaboration between RAINN and 86 Harassment has been a wonderful way to offer training and support services to a community that faces unique risks every day. Through frequent, tailored training sessions and confidential crisis support, we have worked for years to address the realities many respondents reported: sexual misconduct remains a serious problem in the industry, and training has positive impacts on their workplaces. Together, we’re helping build safer workplaces and making sure support is there whenever it's needed.”
Statement from 86 Harassment
“Offering free industry-specific training, education, and a 24/7 confidential support hotline in English and Spanish, 86 Harassment is committed to creating a community where everyone feels safe and valued in their workplace. 86 Harassment is made possible thanks to the generous support of industry sponsors Brown-Forman, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Pernod Ricard North America, Republic National Distributing Company, and Spirits Canada. These sponsors allow 86 Harassment to reach industry professionals for the support they need, when they need it.”
You can see the full report of RAINN and 86 Harassment’s findings here.
86 Harassment Hotline
A crisis hotline built specifically for survivors of sexual misconduct who work in the alcohol/alternative beverage and hospitality industries
Free and confidential to use
Available 24/7 in English or Spanish
U.S. and Canada only: 1-781-277-6679
International: 1-986-786-4386
Online chat: 86 harassment.com/hotline
About 86 Harassment
86 Harassment is a collaborative effort within the alcohol/alternative beverage and hospitality industries to combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence, uniting industry sponsors under a single, comprehensive initiative. 86 Harassment is a key initiative of Women of the Vine & Spirits, the leading mission-driven global membership organization comprised of women and men who are committed to empowering and advancing women in the alcohol and alternative beverage industry.
About RAINN
As the leading authority on sexual violence, RAINN’s mission is to engage in prevention programming, support victims, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. RAINN founded and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline: Telephone: 800.656.HOPE (4673) Online: hotline.rainn.org/online Spanish: rainn.org/es Text: Text “HOPE” to 64673
About the author: George is ASM's assistant editor and a consultant from Rochester, NY. He has more than 15 years experience in the wine & spirits industry which has spanned on and off premise management, distillation, brand development, and more.
