Manners on the Move
Because I spend so much of my time on the road traveling from one location to another, I frequently overnight in hotels. In fact, prior to buying my New York City apartment, I stayed in one Manhattan hotel so often that management invited me to the staff Christmas party.
I came to really know the people who worked the front and back of that particular hotel property. When a doorman’s infant grandson was first admitted to, and then thankfully, released from a local hospital due to a nasty lung infection, I received daily updates. Whenever I checked-in, I managed to see the latest photos taken of a reception clerk who was pursuing a modeling career. When I told some bellmen that I had purchased an apartment, several offered to help me move and said they would always be available should I need a handyman.
With that in mind, I have been astounded to read about charges that the head of the International Monetary Fund sexually assaulted a hotel housekeeper in New York City two weekends ago. Even more disappointing have been the news reports since then indicating that housekeepers regularly experience sexual affronts—explicit comments, groping, exposure, and even attempted rape.
Anyone who has worked in the hospitality industry knows that among hotel employees few toil harder than the ladies (yes, they are mostly women) who straighten hotel rooms. They perform backbreaking work day in and day out for little pay. They clean up messes that hotel guests somehow feel comfortable leaving behind. (God knows why people do things in hotel rooms that they would never do in their own homes.) And they’re expected to work fast. Most housekeepers must straighten up to 15 rooms per day.
History is replete with examples of people who rise to the top while exhibiting boorish behavior. But surely the true measure of any man or woman must take into account how those individuals treat others. If you are an intern, summer associate or new hire who is on the move, remember to treat hotel housekeeping staff with respect. Always address them in a polite, business-like manner. Acknowledge their efforts by leaving a gratuity.
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