Fed Up With Injuries on the Job, Hyatt Workers Hit Back

More than 3,500 housekeepers at 12 Hyatt locations in eight U.S. cities (San Antonio, Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Honolulu and Indianapolis) are jointly filing complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It is the first mass filing of its kind in the private sector, and could be used as a way to ensure that Hyatt changes some of its policies so that workers don't get hurt as often.

Maria Carmen Dominguez, who worked at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, knows all too well about getting hurt on the job. She permanently injured tendon in her shoulder while working as a housekeeper. She says even after, "surgery and months of physical therapy, I am still in pain anytime I lift my arm, even just to get dressed or brush my daughter's hair."

According to a study of hotel workers published by the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Hyatt's employees were more likely to sustain injuries than those at other companies. Perhaps it is because housekeepers at Hyatt are forced to clean up to 30 rooms a day, nearly double what housekeepers at other companies do.

The Hyatt workers filing complaints with OSHA say that the demand of cleaning more rooms a day means they must work much faster, and that can lead to injuries. Falling in slippery showers, long-term damage from repeatedly lifting heavy mattresses and bending over to clean floors are just some of the examples of injuries these housekeepers have suffered. They are asking that OSHA investigate and suggest to Hyatt that they make some changes. Some are simple, like using fitted sheets so housekeepers don't have to lift the whole mattress up, or longer handled dusters and mops so they don't have to bend over so much, and, of course, fewer rooms in a daily quota so they don't have to rush as much.

To make matters even worse, workers at Hyatt report that many do not report injuries for fear of discipline, and that Hyatt has created a "bingo" game that provides incentives for not reporting injuries, with a growing lottery pot for each day no one gets hurt.

Hyatt has clearly created a culture where its policies make it more likely for workers to sustain an injury while attempting to distance itself from responsibility for those injuries. Filing complaints with OSHA is a great way to bring attention to this issue, but why not appeal directly to Hyatt? You can do just that by signing our petition demanding Hyatt change its culture to ensure fewer workers get hurt.

Photo credit: laverrue