“Don’t be a creep”: Polish ice cream company launches campaign against sexual harassment of staff

A Polish ice cream chain, Good Lood, has launched a campaign to combat sexual harassment of staff by customers. The company, which operates 37 outlets in Poland, including the capital Kraków and Warsaw, recognized that the word "lody," meaning ice cream in Polish, also has an informal vulgar meaning referring to oral sex.

Good Lood's female employees regularly encounter lewd comments from male customers, incorporating this double entendre. In response, the company launched a campaign titled "Nie bądź oblechem" (meaning "Don't be a creep") in late August. The campaign aims to empower employees to refuse service to customers who engage in inappropriate behavior.

Good Lood's employees are encouraged to respond to such comments with firm, short retorts, such as "Great, that's the 20th time I've heard that" or "Perhaps you could repeat that more loudly, so the rest of the queue can hear?" The company also calls on other customers to intervene if they witness such behavior.

In a follow-up post, Good Lood confirmed that staff have its support if they decide not to serve a customer exhibiting inappropriate behavior. The company's social media posts have received over 10 million organic views, garnering widespread positive responses. Comments from supporters emphasize the importance of speaking out against harassment and disrespect towards front-line staff in retail and hospitality.

Good Lood was founded 10 years ago in Kraków and now has 37 outlets in Poland, as well as selling its products through Biedronka, the country's largest supermarket chain.