Training Staff to Recognize Possible Human Trafficking

Hotels have been sued in past years by folks who claim to have been trafficked to and through them. To that end, you want to have a policy on hand that will help any employee figure out what they need to do if and when they catch wind of what they think is human trafficking of some sort. That way, you aren’t unprepared, and any guests unhappy with your tactics can complain but so much where hotel policy is concerned.

Training is key. Whatever the case may be, you will want to make absolutely sure that your staff are aware of these signs whether the state requires it in their case or not. Your front desk handles the bulk of interactions with the public, and their training needs to include some of the all-too-common scenarios that have resulted in sleepless nights or even death for families throughout this nation.

Know the signs and the resources

Human trafficking is common in Florida, which has the third-most cases in the United States, per the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The state’s size and proximity to other countries make it especially useful to criminals who seek to make money in nefarious ways, and in response, law enforcement agencies created the South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force.

State legislators have tasked the Department of Business and Professional Regulation with making sure that companies in the hospitality sector take their obligations seriously where discouraging the practice is concerned. All public lodging businesses have to make sure their front-desk staff and custodians are trained appropriately, but it isn’t a requirement for all employees. On the federal government side, the Department of Homeland Security has a page of resources to better educate and engage the public in an attempt to stamp out these happenings nationwide. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association even offers a low-cost class that teaches the public how to recognize the signs and who might be especially at risk.

No doubt it can be tempting to go through the motions, so to speak, in your interactions with the public. Your staff, however, needs to be aware of certain cues that might be signs of trafficking in other conditions. There’s no magic bullet, but you don’t want them to be incompetent either in picking up on these signs. Something as simple as not providing an ID at check-in or being dressed inappropriately for the weather can be signs that something nefarious is going on, but those alone don’t guarantee anything.

Be discreet and thorough

If you or an employee suspects something is wrong, contact the manager in charge immediately. Priority-wise, everything else should stop until that manager has a good and honest read on the situation.

BCD Travel suggests you alert a manager or hotel security at once, discreetly, and use this database if, for some reason, you cannot escalate a report at that time. The group also suggests you remember as many details as you can about the people who came through your door. Not handling this in a discreet manner could put the lives of folks involved in danger, which you don’t want. In these situations, their lives and livelihoods are already in peril.