6th January 2025 – (Hong Kong) A female employee at the Terrace in Seaside restaurant located in Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong, has taken to social media to share her distressing experience of workplace harassment. She accused a female area manager of referring to her with derogatory nickname, “Big Boobs sister ” which led her colleagues to adopt the same disrespectful terms. The employee expressed her outrage, stating, “There was absolutely no respect shown to me.”
The post quickly gained traction online, with many users questioning whether the manager’s behaviour constituted sexual harassment. Comments flooded in, suggesting that the employee should report the incident to the Equal Opportunities Commission, with responses highlighting the utter lack of respect for her dignity in the workplace.
As the situation escalated, the restaurant chain issued a statement declaring their commitment to a harassment-free environment. They confirmed that an internal investigation had been launched and that the implicated manager had been suspended pending further inquiry. However, many netizens felt that the response was insufficient, urging the employee to escalate her complaint to the relevant authorities.
On 5th January, the employee detailed her experience in a post on the social media platform Threads, recounting how, just hours into her first shift, she was assigned a nickname without consent. Initially dismissing the incident, she was taken aback when the manager escalated the mockery by using the name “Big Boobs sister” in a group chat, further humiliating her in front of her peers.
The employee’s account has sparked widespread outrage, with over 7,000 shares and more than 830,000 views in under two days. Many users voiced their disbelief that such behaviour could occur among women, questioning why individuals in positions of authority would fail to respect their colleagues.
In response to the rising public concern, Terrace in Seaside swiftly reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of sexual harassment, assuring the public that they are committed to creating a safe and respectful workplace for all employees. They also promised to enhance training and support systems to prevent future incidents.
Despite the restaurant’s assurances, many remain sceptical and advocate for the employee to pursue formal complaints with the Equal Opportunities Commission or Labour Department, emphasising the need for accountability in such serious matters.
