James Watt & Brewdog’s High Performance Culture (just recognise a union).
James Watt of Brewdog has been speaking to the Telegraph(there are other papers). The story, summarised in other media, is primarily about a potential delay in an IPO(Initial public offering, a public share listing). While Allan Leighton was recently appointed primarily to advise on an IPO, Watt says that while it could be in 2022 it could be 2023. That’s due to uncertain times. Understood, so far, so boring.
Clearly the journalist asked Watt if the delay was related to recent complaints by former staff about harassment and bullying. Watt said the decision predated this. Well, he would say that wouldn’t he.
Watt did however note that Brewdog’s staff handbook had been amended to make clear that it has a ‘high performance culture’. We can see that the Cabinet does not have such a thing but most companies that want to make a profit do.
If I was being professionally boring (I’m a trade union officer representing managers and professionals in the private sector)I’d ask what other companies Brewdog’s HPC is benchmarked against.
However more basically no one reads staff handbooks except trade unions (Brewdog doesn’t recognise them) and the HR managers who write them hoping to insert a few lines that will catch employees they don’t like out. There are some good HR managers out there btw. I represent some of them too.
Watt says that of those who complained some departed for disciplinary reasons. That is a poorly advised line. The appropriate words are that the company (Brewdog) doesn’t comment on such matters, unless of course illegality is involved.
Watt also says that while the ex-workers wanted the ‘perks’ of a dynamic company they didn’t like the high performance culture. In short he means they were lazy.
I’d suggest Mr Watt puts the shovel done, stops digging, and recognises a trade union. He might find he is better informed after that.
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