Sexual Harassment of Teenage Workers in the Hospitality Industry: Incidence, Effect, and Solutions

The incidence of sexual harassment continues to pose a major challenge in the U.S. hospitality industry, which receives a higher percentage of sexual harassment complaints compared to other industries in the United States. Recent research has drawn attention to a particularly vulnerable sub-group of employees—female teenagers. Notable workplace characteristics that contribute to the sexual harassment of female teenage workers include (a) the primary focus on customer service and satisfaction, which supports the notion that “the customer is always right” and (b) the widespread acceptance of sexual harassment as a normal part of the job, which discourages reporting or prevention training. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed 23 lawsuits on behalf of female teenage hospitality workers from 2019 to 2024. This number is anticipated to increase as restrictions are relaxed on work hours and alcohol service. The purpose of this study is to review not only the theoretical and empirical research on female teenage sexual harassment in the U.S. hospitality industry but also pertinent cases filed by the U.S. EEOC from 2019 to 2024 on behalf of female teenage victims of workplace sexual harassment. Protecting employees from sexual harassment, especially the youngest and most vulnerable, must be a top priority for all hospitality firms. Relevant theory, research, and lawsuit outcomes are reviewed and summarized, along with recommended solutions. Although some implications for hospitality managers are offered, more and better-quality research is required to fully explore the problem of sexual harassment of teenage workers.