‘Spat at, kicked and punched’ – staff at MIQ hotels report aggression from guests

Staff in MIQ hotels are being told not to walk alone – and getting security escorts to visit certain guests – because of an increased risk of violence, RNZ reports. They’re being lashed out at, as well as abused through the hotel phones. A representative for MIQ hospitality workers said, “These are hospitality workers, hotel workers. They’re used to dealing with people who might be difficult. But this is a whole other level where [staff] are actually feeling frightened and quite intimidated by some of these guests.” There have already been many cases of violence against nurses, including being ‘shouted at, sworn at, spat at, kicked, punched, grabbed aggressively.”