Swimming pool letchery

[Loveache]

Went for a swim in local pool earlier. Go very regularly without too much bother. However today there were three men together who leered and leered. Not just a glance or an 'unconscious' stare. On purpose, to intimidate me. They also kept talking in their own language, looking back over at me and sniggering.
I ignored and got on with the swim Went into sauna, they followed. Came out. Went back swimming to find that ringleader letch was sitting at the end of my lane, again leering.

Mentioned it to reception as I was leaving. Was sympathised with but told (I know!) there's nothing they can do as they haven't done anything. I see the point and disagree at the same time. It's just not on.

Under different circumstances I might have said something to the men. But I don't feel like three against one in a swimsuit when they're behaving like that.

So AIBU or should pools have some kind of policy here?

That's called harassment, and yes there should be policy. If the pool has a social media presence, call them out on it publicly and see what happens.

Was there no lifeguard you could have said something to at the time?

Yep. Tweet it. The least they can do is talk to them and ask them to tone it down.

Of course they can do something. It’s blatant harassment. You should have told a member of staff sooner, I would be worried about younger maybe more vulnerable women if these men think that it is acceptable and can get away with this behavior.

I would have said something to poolside staff immediately.

You should definitely call it out, you should have approached the lifeguard. Social media and phone to speak to the manager.

Call the pool management out on it. Every time. This sort of behaviour is just not on and will result in women not using the pools because they feel so uncomfortable.
Was there a lifeguard or member of staff there?
To say that the men did nothing is stupid and wrong. Very clearly they were doing something.

You need to speak to the management, the staff especially the lifeguards are probably teenagers/students and won't have the experience to deal with this kind of thing.

That's precisely why I didn't tell the lifeguard- a little 17 year old who was more busy watching the children's pool. What's she supposed to do?
More annoyed with myself at this point for wimping out of confrontation.

I think if they followed you twice, that's pretty clear what they were doing.

I would write to the place again and say what happened. At the least the staff could keep an eye and if anyone else complains about the same men, then they might have someone have a word with them.

it's depressing isn't it - I've never used the women only swim session but I can see why people want to.

That's harassment and intimidation, and management is being unreasonable for allowing it to go on once it's brought to their attention.

And they are just as likely to lech over some poor young 15 year old!

Is the pool council run, or part of an hotel leisure complex, or gym?

I’d email the highest person you can find in the organisation and ask what the company policy is regarding reporting harassment.

Its always a bit tricky when you are put into a situation which you haven't planned for op.

I don't think I'd do anything this time but I would certainly report them next time.

Will they be on CCTV? if so I would want them banned from the pool. I'd write a complaint and say and I wanted to speak to the manager. If its a council run pool they have policies they have to follow. They just cant let men sexually harass women in the pool.

That's horrible op. Sympathise but not sure what u could have done