Italy: hotel group Marriott and trade unions sign a document combatting sexual harassment (in brief)

In a first for the global hotel group, and according to the minutes from the 28 June meeting between management at Marriott’s nine luxury hotels and the trade unions (Filcams-Cgil, Fisascat-Cisl et Uiltucs), the company stated having put strict policies in place both to anticipate and prevent sexual harassment as well as to stamp out behavior linked to sexual harassment, discrimination and human trafficking. Employees ‘have to be able to carry out their business in safety and without fear. To this effect and for decades, policies, procedures, and training have been adopted,’ in order to promote safe work places, ‘including when our staff and colleagues meet with customers.’ Marriott has put a ‘Business Integrity Line’ in place, giving staff listening points to report and denounce irregular behavior, with anonymity being possible too. Marriott also stated that it had put strict policies in place countering human trafficking, along with staff training so colleagues can identify potential trafficking situations. Trade unions asked that such reports be treated promptly and discreetly and that appropriate sanction be levied upon the authors of harassment and violence, ‘including when it concerns customers.’ The company and trade unions thus concur on the importance of both ongoing active vigilance in these areas and the need for discretion, confidentiality and impartiality when reports and alerts are made and they affirm that deviant actions should be ‘firmly and severely sanctioned’, within the legal framework of the collective agreement.