# Harassment-Ending Server Initiatives The 'Homeroom' Restaurant Is Using MACS to Protect Servers By Justin Lam | Published 2018-04-05 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/homeroom-restaurant References: [grubstreet](http://www.grubstreet.com/2018/03/homeroom-restaurant-system-combats-customer-harassment.html?utm_source=nym&utm_medium=f1&utm_campaign=feed-part) & [washingtonpost](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-my-restaurant-successfully-dealt-with-harassment-from-customers/2018/03/29/3d9d00b8-221a-11e8-badd-7c9f29a55815_story.html?utm_term=.f25f770ecd6a) The 'Homeroom' restaurant, based in San Francisco, has recently developed a system that is set to deal with abusive customers. The mac-and-cheese joint is currently run by Erin Wade, a former lawyer and self-described “overtly feminist restaurateur,” who developed the system after fielding multiple harassment complaints made by female staff. After looking into these claims, Wade found that much of the incidents involved customers and were often ignored by male managers. The new system used in the Homeroom restaurant is known as the Management Alert Color System, or MACS. All employees are trained on this system that uses three different colors to categorize incidents. Split between yellow, orange and red, each color elicits various responses with the final option being kicking out the customer in question. The implementation of MACS at the Homeroom restaurant has drastically reduced incident at the restaurant and is set to affect similar initiatives in surrounding eateries. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.8/10 - Popularity: 76% | Activity: 91% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Management Alert Color System (MACS) for Abusive Customers:** Using a color-coded system to categorize and respond to incidents, businesses can effectively deal with abusive customers and protect their staff. - **Addressing Harassment Complaints in the Food Service Industry:** Developing systems and protocols to address and prevent harassment in restaurants can create safer and more inclusive work environments. - **Increased Focus on Customer Behavior in Restaurants:** Restaurants are prioritizing customer behavior and implementing innovative strategies to ensure a positive and respectful experience for their staff and patrons. ### Who This Affects Most - **Food Service Industry:** Implementing the MACS system can help prevent harassment incidents and improve employee well-being in restaurants. - **Hospitality Industry:** Hotels and other hospitality establishments can adopt similar incident categorization systems to address harassment complaints and protect their employees. - **Retail Industry:** Using a color-based incident response system can aid retail businesses in handling abusive customer behavior and creating a safe working environment. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Generative-AI Restaurant Servers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brown-bacon-ai.md) - [Grayscale Burger Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/burger-king-france-anti-bullying.md) - [Employee Abuse-Reporting Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/abusereporting-app.md) - [Discreet Victim Support Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ask-for-angela-campaign.md) - [Robotic Restaurant Support Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robotlab-automated-systems.md) - [On-Table Ordering Startups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/leslie.md) - [Female-Centered Restaurant Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trust-bae.md) - [Patron-Led Payment Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/get-union.md) - [Anti-Offensive Speech Speakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/themis-device.md)