Mass Redundancy at BrewDog Sparks Outrage After 15-Minute Phone Call
In a shocking turn of events, over 400 BrewDog staff members have been made redundant following a company conference call that lasted just 15 minutes. This drastic action came after 38 pub branches were not included in a £33 million rescue agreement earlier this week, leaving hundreds of employees without jobs.
Rescue Deal Excludes Dozens of Locations
The beverage and cannabis firm Tilray purchased parts of the pub company on March 2, after it entered into administration. However, the deal did not encompass 38 branches, which subsequently led to the mass layoffs. Bryan Simpson, hospitality organiser with the Unite union, responded to the decision, expressing deep concern over the handling of the situation.
Simpson told the BBC that he believed the 15-minute conference call to inform staff was "morally repugnant." He shared that employees were left "devastated" and many were hesitant to speak out publicly due to the circumstances.
Staff Left in the Dark Without Proper Notice
According to Simpson, staff were given only 25 minutes' notice before the call, during which cameras were turned off and there was no opportunity to ask questions. He criticised BrewDog's recent actions, noting that the company had abandoned the living wage and closed bars last year, adding to the turmoil.
One redundant employee revealed that staff were told they could apply for pay via the Insolvency Service, but issues persisted. "They have not paid any of us that worked over the weekend," the employee stated. "For salaried staff, none of the overtime we worked during February has been paid. Accrued holiday has been written off."
Union Representative Calls It the Worst Mass Redundancy
Simpson, who has been representing bar workers for over a decade, described this as the worst mass redundancy he has dealt with, including during the pandemic. Workers were instructed to contact the consulting firm AlixPartners to retrieve personal possessions from their BrewDog branches.
A spokesperson for the Administrators, AlixPartners, told The Sun that they are providing support to those affected, helping them claim statutory entitlements and connecting them with hospitality providers for new employment opportunities. "We appreciate this is an extremely challenging time for those involved," the spokesperson said.
