Sexual Harassment and Workplace Productivity in the Nigerian Hospitality Industry: Evidence from Kano State Hotels

This study examines the prevalence of sexual harassment and its impact on workplace productivity in hotels and hospitality establishments in Kano State, North West Nigeria. The hospitality industry's distinctive power structures, customer-facing work environments, and informal employment arrangements create conditions in which sexual harassment flourishes yet remains chronically underreported. A descriptive survey design was employed, with 145 hotel employees, including room attendants, front desk officers, and food service workers, participating through structured questionnaires. The study draws on the Organizational Tolerance Model of Workplace Harassment and recent international labour organization literature on safe work environments. Findings reveal that a significant proportion of respondents had experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, with female employees accounting for the majority of victims. Affected employees report measurable declines in concentration, increased absenteeism, and reduced service quality following harassment incidents. The study further finds that hotels lacking formal harassment policies, complaint channels, or disciplinary procedures for offenders have substantially higher productivity losses. Importantly, cultural taboos around discussing sexuality in the North West context exacerbate underreporting and increase psychological distress among affected workers. Recommendations include the enactment of organizational anti-harassment policies, training of supervisors on harassment detection and reporting, and the creation of safe anonymous complaint mechanisms. This study contributes to the literature on workplace safety and gendered employment in Nigeria's hospitality sector. Keywords: sexual harassment, workplace productivity, hospitality industry, Kano State, workplace safety