Category Hospitality Employees

Stronger protections and better ergonomics training for hotel housekeeping staff will go into effect July 1, 2018 in California. Designed to prevent and reduce work-related injuries to housekeepers in the hotel and hospitality industry, the new regulation requires hotel and lodging employers to establish, implement and maintain an effective Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Program (MIPP) for housekeepers. Fisher Phillips, Benjamin Ebbink, explains the rule and it’s requirements employers must include in their programs.

As we reported in January, after nearly six years of discussion and debate, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board (Board) approved a standard on “Hotel Housekeeping Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention...

Criminals view hotel vulnerabilities as opportunities making them a focus of fraud, assault, cybercrime and much more.  The result of this criminal behavior often causes revenue, reputation and guest loyalty loss to the hotel owner. Every hotel owner should ensure guest, employee and property safety by investing in top security and enhancing security programs and training regularly. Mountain Home News, Adam Richards, suggests 9 ways to boost your hotel security.

Hotels are high-traffic places where a lot of money transactions are made. These two things alone make them potential targets for all sorts of nefarious behavior, from vandalism to data theft. If you want to make sure that your hotel, or the hotel you manage, is safe, here are some ways you can boost its security.

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The EEOC is settling a variety of discrimination cases at a high price to employers.  From sexual harassment and retaliation to medical disability discrimination, the hotel industry has been hit with suits across the country.  It may be a good time for hoteliers to review their workplace culture along with employee work environments. JD Supra reports a case recently filed by the EEOC. One, hoteliers may want to track.

Company Failed to Provide Ventilated Space for Employee With Asthma, Federal Agency Charges

SAN DIEGO – Merritt Hospitality, LLC and HEI Hotels and Resorts LLC, who together operate the Embassy Suites San Diego Bay, a San Diego hotel that has over 300 guest rooms, violated federal law when they denied a reasonable accommodation to an employee with asthma, the U.S...

New roll-backs by the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) suggest the organization is restoring balance between employers and employees by reviewing the legality and enforceability of employee class and collective waivers in arbitration agreements. Although the ruling is still debatable, it is expected to have consequences for employers and employees and may offer guidelines on how to make these agreements more enforceable. Employers should wait for the ruling before making any changes to their agreements. Hotel Management, Elliot Mest, reports the facts surrounding deliberations.

Class-action waivers are a tricky subject if employers want to avoid hampering employee morale, while also covering their tracks.

We often imagine the rule of law as something rigid or set in stone, but in...

Recent studies show “hotel room designs and decor, not area, determine housekeeper workloads and musculoskeletal demands. Attempts to set production standards or restriction of workloads based solely upon the average size of a hotel room could produce large variations in housekeeper workloads and exposures to MSD risk factors.”

New standard recently passed by Cal/OSHA “requires employers to identify, evaluate, and correct housekeeping related hazards with the involvement of housekeepers and their union representative.” Effective July 1, 2018, hotel employers must develop, apply, and maintain an effective Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Program (MIPP). Advisen Insurance, provides key points that must be included in each policy.

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Initiated in many forms, harassment is a widespread problem for hotel workers across the nation. Ranging from jokes to propositions to assaults, approximately 95% of women working in the hospitality industry have experienced some kind of inappropriate advance from a male guest. While cities across the nation continue to take steps to address the inappropriate behavior, hotels themselves are also urged to take a stance against the abuses by clearly stating anti-harassment policies and providing a number of outlets for reporting an incident. Fisher Phillips attorneys provide key points employers should consider immediately to minimize legal liabilities.

In April 2016 survey of 400 Chicago-area women working at hotels, nearly 50 percent indicated that they have had a guest answer the doo...

It’s no secret that ergonomic injuries at work are a widespread multi-billion dollar problem across all industries and in all states. With proper training, management support and clear processes in place, employers can systematically identify and manage ergonomic risk factors and apply solutions to reduce physical problems and increase an employee’s ability to work more efficiently.  Ergonomic claims will remain a high-priced issue for businesses that choose to ignore it. State Fund Safety News, provides inexpensive solutions to common ergonomic issues – a guide every employer should read.

Did You Know?

Ergonomic injuries account for 37 percent of all workplace injuries according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most of them attributed to overexertion...

No industry or company is immune from the recent flood of sexual harassment claims. In fact, the insurance industry is expecting an influx of EPLI (Employment Practices Liability Insurance) claims in the entertainment, media, hospitality and other industries. Companies need to set clear policies and standards addressing behavior in the workplace then live by them.  Fischer & Phillips, Jennifer Sandberg & Joseph Shelton, lay out a 5-Step Plan to address growing sexual harassment concerns.

For several months now, it seems that each new day has brought about a fresh round of reporting on yet another high-profile sexual harassment accusation...

Evolving technology and the digital world has brought forth new meaning to hotel security. While cybersecurity has become a common topic among security professionals, there are several components that complete hotel security. From surveillance to the quality of room locks, every element of guest, employee, and property safety should be addressed equally. Hospitalitynet, Lillian Connors, outlines some note-worthy recommendations to help hotel security professionals optimize safety and security on their properties.

Running a hotel business is a lucrative move towards financial success down the road, however, it’s not without its drawbacks...

“The threat is real!” Along with the digital age, cyber threats and data breaches are here to stay. Threats associated with the hotel industry have become common events. From companies, guests, and vendors to employees, owners, and stakeholders, people need assurance that company and personal data is being protected in a secure manner. Developing a business strategy for the digital age should be top priority for every hotel. Advisen Insurance shares a recent cybersecurity publication from Hotel Business Review that every hotelier should read.

This article was originally published by Hotel Business Review and is reprinted with permission from www.hotelexecutive.com.

Almost as soon as there were data breaches, hotels became a prime target of hackers, and the hospitality industry h...