7th January 2025 – (Hong Kong) Terrace in Seaside, a Korean restaurant chain, has responded to allegations of sexual harassment involving a female employee at its Festival Walk branch. Following a complaint posted on social media, the restaurant announced on 5th January that it has suspended the manager implicated and is taking the incident seriously.
The employee claimed that within hours of starting her job, she was subjected to inappropriate nicknames related to her appearance by the branch manager. Following this, the restaurant confirmed that it has established an independent investigation team composed of HR personnel to meet with staff over the next two days. Based on the findings of this investigation, further actions may be considered, including additional disciplinary measures.
In a statement, the restaurant reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of sexual harassment, asserting that they are committed to creating a safe and respectful work environment. They have also outlined their existing policies to prevent harassment in accordance with the Gender Discrimination Ordinance and pledged to enhance internal training for staff.
The incident has sparked significant public outrage, with the initial post garnering over 83,000 views and 7,000 shares in less than two days. The employee has since applied for resignation and expressed a desire to communicate through the Equal Opportunities Commission regarding her experience.
Meanwhile, the chairwoman of the Equal Opportunities Commission, Linda Lam Mei-sau, has clarified that harassment, including making offensive comments or jokes about someone’s gender or appearance, is a violation of the law, regardless of the gender involved. Lam stressed that employers have a shared responsibility to prevent such incidents by enforcing anti-harassment policies and providing employee education. The Commission is prepared to investigate complaints and facilitate mediation when necessary.
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