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Ex-Brewdog staff allege culture of fear at brewer

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Offline  oldtennisshoes
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Ooof https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57428258

Open letter here - https://www.punkswithpurpose.org/dearbrewdog/

Is all publicity really good publicity?
There seems to be a disconnect between the image and the reality.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 2:44 pm
Offline  selkirkbear
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They'll probably launch "Toxic Culture IPA" next month

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 2:48 pm
Offline  grantyboy
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I almost accepted a job in their Finance department a few years back but the recurring story I got back was expect long hours and they want their pound of flesh. I'm glad I didn't join as they binned their newly formed Finance department first lockdown. They've also been through 3 CFO's in 3 years, make of that what you will.
It also common to hear that their brewers are or have left to join rival breweries here in the north east. Another recurring story is one of the founders is ok, the other a narcissistic douche bag

Doesn't sound all power to the punk behind closed doors.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 2:58 pm
Offline  Kryton57
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Ouch!

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:11 pm
Offline  5plusn8
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My experience of venture capital is that everyone below the capitalists gets their arse kicked.
It's like most big fast growing business on the planet.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:16 pm
Offline  trailwagger
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Meh, "former employees didnt like the company/boss they used to work for" next.

Nothing in the letter says anything other than the company is extremely ambitious and profit driven, just like 99% of all other businesses, thats kinda the point of business.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:16 pm
Offline  kelvin
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https://twitter.com/mralistairgreen/status/1379714709050552320?s=12

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:17 pm
Offline  scuttler
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BrewDog – we’re sorry, but you don’t get to spend fourteen years exploiting social media’s lack of interest in nuance or truth, and then shit the bed when it comes back around on you.

Ooooft.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:20 pm

Offline  Northwind
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grantyboy
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It also common to hear that their brewers are or have left to join rival breweries here in the north east. Another recurring story is one of the founders is ok, the other a narcissistic douche bag

It's always kind of a revolving door for brewers... Even the best employers expect to lose skilled staff either to a larger stronger competitor, a smaller more interesting competitor, or to the endless draw of setting up on your own. So that's kind of par for the course.

But the other, yep, totally.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:26 pm
Offline  Kryton57
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My experience of venture capital is that everyone below the capitalists gets their arse kicked.

+1. Our new umbrella company is owned by a VC... The way it was described to me is thats there's a monthly payment to be paid to the VC via revenues. If it can't be paid, they start selling off...

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:28 pm
Offline  chakaping
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I know Private Eye have covered concerns about profligate spending on personal expenses by the founder(s).

And...

They’ve also been through 3 CFO’s in 3 years

fits with that.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:30 pm
Offline  citizenlee
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Brewdog just seems like hipster, man-bun shit to me. I went in when they first opened in Aberdeen and the beer I had tasted like curry.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:31 pm
Offline  ratherbeintobago
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The beer isn't that nice either. Had some Lost Lager last summer and it was totally insipid.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:33 pm
Offline  PJM1974
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+1 for the beer being sub par and ambitiously priced.

At least now I've more motivation for continuing to avoid giving them my custom.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:35 pm
Offline  v7fmp
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i dont know much about their internal policies, but they do commit crime everytime they release a new drink.

Utter pond water.

Rank.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:36 pm
Offline  somafunk
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Only tried punk ipa and that was over carbonated tasteless shite, I stick with anything Vocation Brewery ftw

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:39 pm

Offline  oldtennisshoes
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I quite like the beer and the bar they've opened in Perth has added a bit of quality amongst the Wetherspoon esque establishments. James does sound like a weapons grade bell end though.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:40 pm
Offline  ampthill
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The only employee I know had beer delivered free, at home, whist furloughed

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:48 pm
Offline  kelvin
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Had some Lost Lager last summer and it was totally insipid.

Lost Lager is awful stuff. Brewdog have made some great beers over the years though, and still have plenty of good ones. Some of the bars are great places as well. Other options are available...

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:49 pm
Offline  Blackflag
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@ Kelvin.

I'm having a s day at work and that punk squirrel ipa vid has just cheered me right up.

and yeah, f brewdog.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:49 pm
Offline  kelvin
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The can label is inspired.

I'm 43.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:49 pm
Offline  doris5000
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There seems to be a disconnect between the image and the reality.

What is the image? The Blink182 of beer?

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:53 pm
Offline  grum
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Meh, “former employees didnt like the company/boss they used to work for”

I'd be pretty gutted if I ran a firm and that many former employees put their name to a letter like that. Brewdog always seemed like posturing ****s to me TBH, acting 'edgy' and trolling to get media traction, being 'rebels' but available in all major supermarkets.

I find the beer alright though, but there is much better available.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:56 pm
Offline  squirrelking
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Meh, “former employees didnt like the company/boss they used to work for” next.

Nothing in the letter says anything other than the company is extremely ambitious and profit driven, just like 99% of all other businesses, thats kinda the point of business.

Knowing one of those signatories personally I can assure you it's not just a case of disgruntled former employees getting wide. Whether or not an employer is ambitious and profit driven they still have a duty of care to employees and especially should not shrug off sexual assault as "part of the job" (bar worker).

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 3:59 pm

Offline  yourguitarhero
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This tallies with what I've heard from people within the industry.
To be honest, most craft breweries don't seem to be great places to work.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:01 pm
Offline  trailwagger
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I’d be pretty gutted if I ran a firm and that many former employees put their name to a letter like that

Yep but the letter doesn't really say anything of any substance other than " i didnt like working there (and niether did these other people)" and "the owners using private jets", so what!

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:01 pm
Offline  johndoh
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Meh, “former employees didnt like the company/boss they used to work for” next.

Nothing in the letter says anything other than the company is extremely ambitious and profit driven, just like 99% of all other businesses, thats kinda the point of business.

The difference being with Brewdog is that they try to portray themselves as a great place to work with a great culture when clearly the reality is somewhat different.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:04 pm
Offline  nickc
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I feel sorry for the staff if they been in that sort of culture, it's shockingly common even these days, there's no excuse for it, having said that...

the other a narcissistic douche bag

Lots of "driven" people are like this. The trick is keeping them focused on the business rather than let them get anywhere near other humans

Meh, “former employees didnt like the company/boss they used to work for” next.

This sort of crap can get in the sea.,

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:04 pm
Offline  squirrelking
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Wow. That didn't take long.

https://mobile.twitter.com/FairHospitality/status/1402918707043749888?s=1005

Yep but the letter doesn’t really say anything of any substance other than ” i didnt like working there (and niether did these other people)”

You're missing the point. The accusations are out there and well known to those paying attention. But that aside, how many employers have open letters published against them regarding a toxic culture? Precious few I'd imagine. So ask yourself, why is this important enough to warrant it?

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:08 pm
Offline  jimdubleyou
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BrewDogJames
18h
Hey Everyone,

Just to let you know. We saw the Punkspurpose tweet and we will post a full response soon. On our growth journey we have not always got things right and we are happy to admit when that is the case.

However, we have always had a high performance culture, we have always moved at speed and we have always focussed on growth.

It is fair to say that this type of fast paced and intense environment is definitely not for everyone, but many of our fantastic long term team members have thrived in our culture. Our culture is built on rewarding and developing great people and focussing on growing our business .

We will a share a full update soon.

James

First reply on Forum...

I’ll take gaslighting for $100

Quite a few on the forum are calling for James to go...

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:25 pm
Offline  nickc
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Eurgh, that "current crew" response letter is cringeworthy. The please respond with a "YES" by 10.30am just smacks of otherwise you name will be on a "list"

That fact that they (the management) call themselves Mission Control speaks volumes TBH

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:25 pm
Offline  grum
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Wow. That didn’t take long.

https://mobile.twitter.com/FairHospitality/status/1402918707043749888?s=1005
/blockquote>

Urgh that is truly horrible. Imagine responding to this by pretending to be listening in your public statement, then sneakily putting together a made-up organic response 'from the crew' which also involves a loyalty test to weed out existing trouble-makers. Also, going on about how you must be good employers because you have 'pawternity' leave. 🤢 Never mind the Elvis quotes. 🙁

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:26 pm

Offline  trailwagger
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You’re missing the point. The accusations are out there and well known to those paying attention. But that aside, how many employers have open letters published against them regarding a toxic culture? Precious few I’d imagine. So ask yourself, why is this important enough to warrant it?

MAybe it is , maybe it isn't. What i dont like is the "trial be social media" that goes on today. Accusations, and lets be clear thats all it is without any evidence, are made openly via some media platform and suddenly someone or some business` reputation is tarnished for ever. If they have done anything wrong then why isn't it investigated properly or legal proceedings brought in private until the truth is out. Then and only then should it be publicly broadcast.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:28 pm
Offline  chewkw
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Never tried their brew.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:30 pm
Offline  nickc
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Make your mind up, first you were arguing that they're just pissed off employees who couldn't hack the pace, now your claiming that they'll tarnish the founders reputation forever...Those things can't both be right, can they?

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:35 pm
Offline  oldtennisshoes
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why isn’t it investigated properly or legal proceedings brought in private until the truth is out

And how do you propose they do that? Who would pay?

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:36 pm
Offline  citizenlee
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Never tried their brew.

Piss in a glass, leave it out in the sun for a few weeks before chilling it in the fridge.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:39 pm
Offline  grum
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There's a first page to that message in the tweet also where it says the whistleblower message is demeaning to current staff and also a threat to their livelihoods which might result in job losses. So that's definitely not threatening people to sign up to the rebuttal statement.... 🤔

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:39 pm
Offline  timbog160
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Never tried their stuff - I’m strictly a Stella/ Peroni man I’m afraid, but presumably they tried to position themselves as a brand of the people type of thing and that’s why this has caused a bit of a fuss. Isn’t this just the disconnect between marketing and reality…and you’d have to be a bit daft to believe all the marketing you see.

I can’t believe nobody has called out that latest Innocent ad about saving the earth when they are owned by coke (or certainly were)

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:40 pm
Offline  chakaping
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I can’t believe nobody has called out that latest Innocent ad about saving the earth when they are owned by coke (or certainly were)

Yes they have.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:42 pm

Offline  grum
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https://mobile.twitter.com/PunksWPurpose/status/1402920597945044997/photo/1

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:43 pm
Offline  spawnofyorkshire
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MAybe it is , maybe it isn’t. What i dont like is the “trial be social media” that goes on today. Accusations, and lets be clear thats all it is without any evidence, are made openly via some media platform and suddenly someone or some business` reputation is tarnished for ever. If they have done anything wrong then why isn’t it investigated properly or legal proceedings brought in private until the truth is out. Then and only then should it be publicly broadcast.

Because tribunals aren't a cure to a negative culture in an organisation, they are an action brought about by an individual. More than likely a firm with any intelligence will pay someone off before it gets to court and will require an NDA - then no one outside the business gets to hear about it for risk of financial reprisal.
Want to highlight fundamental issues with a business - publicly shame them.
Saying it all needs to be done privately allows someone who is guilty to hide, if your reputation is good it can survive, if not then it will be rightfully tarnished.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:44 pm
Offline  squirrelking
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If they have done anything wrong then why isn’t it investigated properly or legal proceedings brought in private until the truth is out

I really don't think you understand this at all.

£2k for an industrial tribunal may be a start, not many folk can afford either the financial or reputational cost. Maybe try reading the first letter again and consider peoples positions from that perspective. If you then read the response from Brewdog it shouldn't be too hard to join the dots.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:45 pm
Offline  Haze
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Quite like Punk IPA as it goes, that's not reading well though.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:47 pm
Offline  trailwagger
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And how do you propose they do that? Who would pay?

depends who wins doesnt it?

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:53 pm
Online  franksinatra
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I was on the fence on this until I saw their management drafted response form the 'crew' with the not so subtle loyalty test aligned with it. That is a truly appalling position to put staff in.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:55 pm
Offline  jamj1974
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just like 99% of all other businesses, thats kinda the point of business.

That is a very narrow and reductionist view of the purpose of employment in the economy and wider-society. Reaganomics is not good economics.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:56 pm
Offline  trailwagger
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I`ll dip out at this point, dont want it to disintegrate into another typical STW thread... But the majority of posters so far are backing the ex staff and their unsubstantiated claims without seeing any evidence to back up these claims.
It smacks of "guilty until proven innocent". There are plenty of laws protecting people in the workplace. If Brew dog have broken any of those then it should be dealt with appropriately (not via social media).

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 4:59 pm

Offline  mrlebowski
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Brewdog - the Heineken of craft beer..

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 5:04 pm
Offline  jimdubleyou
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If Brew dog have broken any of those then it should be dealt with appropriately (not via social media).

You'd never find out, because their lawyers would undoubtedly insist on an NDA.

As a shareholder, I want this company to uphold its stated aims of its people being paramount.

Imo (not having worked there but being party to a fair bit via the punks forum) James' insistence on a high-performance* environment being the only way the BD can prosper is not in the long term interests of its staff.

*or to put it another way, toxic.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 5:07 pm
Offline  ransos
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But the majority of posters so far are backing the ex staff and their unsubstantiated claims without seeing any evidence to back up these claims

All we can do is form a judgement based on information in the public domain. Like @Franksinatra, I was on the fence until I saw Brewdog's response, which is a not so subtle attempt to suggest that the ex-employee wasn't up to the job, along with flushing out anyone else not deemed to be sufficiently loyal. It's a crappy thing to do.

 
Posted : 10/06/2021 5:07 pm
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