Lap dancing has become 'part of working life'
Discussion
Link to Telegraph
Telegraph said:
Lap dancing has become a routine part of many British workplaces, intimidating women and undermining equality, a campaign group has said.
By James Kirkup, Political Correspondent
Published: 4:00PM BST 17 Sep 2009
The Fawcett Society, which campaigns for women’s rights, found that companies are turning a blind eye to the use of sex clubs by workers.
Some firms knowingly authorise the use of staff expenses for entertaining clients in lap dancing and strip clubs, the group said.
Fawcett researchers identified more than 300 active lap dancing clubs in the UK, studying their websites and contacting them directly to ask about their work with corporate clients.
Some 41 per cent of UK lap dancing clubs directly target employers through marketing on their websites, the researchers found.
And 86 per cent of London lap dancing clubs in London provide ‘discreet receipts’ for expenses claims, allowing fees to be reclaimed without reveal what sort of establishment the money was spent in.
Kat Banyard, the Fawcett Society researcher who wrote the report, described the sex industry as “a major threat to women’s equality at work” and said employers have failed to halt the trend.
She said: “The sex industry is increasingly targeting the corporate market, with lap dancing clubs marketing themselves as ideal venues to host meetings and client entertaining. Yet lap dancing clubs are a form of commercial sexual exploitation and fuel sexist attitudes towards women. Their use in a work context discriminates against female employees and undermines women’s status at work.
She added: “For too long, employers have engaged with the sex industry without due regard for the impact on female employees, and have failed to prevent the illicit use of the sex industry by employees in a work context.”
Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader, has also attacked the use of sex clubs by employers and earlier this year included the issue in an official inquiry she launched into sex equality in the banking industry.
Miss Harman’s Government Equalities Office, has said the use of lap dancing clubs is a sign of "discrimination and harassment" in the financial sector.
Under pressure from campaigners, the Government has announced plans to restrict the licencing of lap dancing clubs.
The Policing and Crime Bill now before Parliament would regulate “lap dancing and other sex encounter venues” and require them to have a licence, which could cost up to £30,000.
I wish. By James Kirkup, Political Correspondent
Published: 4:00PM BST 17 Sep 2009
The Fawcett Society, which campaigns for women’s rights, found that companies are turning a blind eye to the use of sex clubs by workers.
Some firms knowingly authorise the use of staff expenses for entertaining clients in lap dancing and strip clubs, the group said.
Fawcett researchers identified more than 300 active lap dancing clubs in the UK, studying their websites and contacting them directly to ask about their work with corporate clients.
Some 41 per cent of UK lap dancing clubs directly target employers through marketing on their websites, the researchers found.
And 86 per cent of London lap dancing clubs in London provide ‘discreet receipts’ for expenses claims, allowing fees to be reclaimed without reveal what sort of establishment the money was spent in.
Kat Banyard, the Fawcett Society researcher who wrote the report, described the sex industry as “a major threat to women’s equality at work” and said employers have failed to halt the trend.
She said: “The sex industry is increasingly targeting the corporate market, with lap dancing clubs marketing themselves as ideal venues to host meetings and client entertaining. Yet lap dancing clubs are a form of commercial sexual exploitation and fuel sexist attitudes towards women. Their use in a work context discriminates against female employees and undermines women’s status at work.
She added: “For too long, employers have engaged with the sex industry without due regard for the impact on female employees, and have failed to prevent the illicit use of the sex industry by employees in a work context.”
Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader, has also attacked the use of sex clubs by employers and earlier this year included the issue in an official inquiry she launched into sex equality in the banking industry.
Miss Harman’s Government Equalities Office, has said the use of lap dancing clubs is a sign of "discrimination and harassment" in the financial sector.
Under pressure from campaigners, the Government has announced plans to restrict the licencing of lap dancing clubs.
The Policing and Crime Bill now before Parliament would regulate “lap dancing and other sex encounter venues” and require them to have a licence, which could cost up to £30,000.
Edited by Don on Thursday 17th September 17:23
Funny it mentions the workplace, how about the home? I caught a couple of episodes of Come Dine With Me where members of the public take it in turns to cook for each other. Usually 2 single men and 2 single women. On both shows there was a booked lap/pole dancer entertaining them after dinner.
Telegraph said:
Lap dancing has become a routine part of many British workplaces, intimidating women and undermining equality, a campaign group has said.
Which women do they ask when they make statements like this, I've never been asked and I find it neither intimidating or undermining.
k that, what about men's equality? I can't get a job dancing at one of these establishments, They should be taken to a tribunal. 
That the draft Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Casino Premises Licences) Order 2007, which was laid before this House on 1st March, be approved.
Harriet Harman MP, Camberwell & Peckham voted with the majority (Aye).
So much for industrialised exploitation of vulnarable people...
Harriet Harman MP, Camberwell & Peckham voted with the majority (Aye).
So much for industrialised exploitation of vulnarable people...
TEKNOPUG said:
pejay said:
Now why can't I read that story without thinking of...
Don't recall there ever being "lap-dancing" there......pole-dancing, naked cavorting on stage perhaps...
In my last job one of the companies we regularly dealt with would take people/us to lap dancing bars at the end of a night. They'd then submit receipts for the 'entertainment' and my girlfriend who worked in their finance dept would be able to track the clubs I'd been to, but she was totally cool with it.
Romanymagic said:
TEKNOPUG said:
pejay said:
Now why can't I read that story without thinking of...
[The Griffin]
Don't recall there ever being "lap-dancing" there......pole-dancing, naked cavorting on stage perhaps...[The Griffin]
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff