Brewdog. Ignoring the first law of holes
Brewdog’s James Watt is continuing his campaign against a group of people he claims are deliberately running down Brewdog. A firm of private investigators has been hired consisting of ‘ex-job’ (Met) officers. One doubts on that basis that the investigations have been of the highest ethical standards.
Even so the issues Watt alleges are involved are serious (Brewdog statement below). Indeed serious enough, were there actual evidence, one might suppose, to be referred to the police and if appropriate to be considered for prosecution. That does not seem to have taken place. Reference to a private prosecution is made but there doesn’t seem to be any actual evidence of a case or of anyone being involved either.
In fact it looks rather like another attempt to scare off those employees and ex-employees who have concerns and issues about what has been described as a ‘toxic’ workplace culture at Brewdog. It is very difficult for individuals to speak out particularly if character assassination by an employer might be an issue.
In reality the actions of James Watt, in my view, are dragging Brewdog and the whole public image of wider craft beer through the mud. He clearly has not paid attention to the first law of holes and may soon be in a position to launch Brewdog bars in Australia.
More practically he needs to be made something like Brewdog President Emeritus and let someone else take over the day to day running of the brewer. Whoever that it is needs to recognise a trade union so Brewdog can properly manage workplace issues and draw a line under this increasingly sorry and bitter mess.
A BrewDog spokesperson said: “James Watt has been subjected to a two-year criminal campaign of online harassment, defamation, fraud, blackmail and malicious communications, instigated by a very small group of individuals. Investigators were hired to find the source of these false allegations, to seek to bring this to an end.
“As a result of those investigations, our lawyers are pursuing a private criminal prosecution for fraud and malicious communications in a court in London, there are related civil proceedings under way in Scotland and other matters have been reported to the police. These proceedings also relate to individuals directly involved in the leadership of the Punks With Purpose movement.
“We will no longer allow blatant lies to be told about our business or our people. Where those lies are told, we are duty bound to set the record straight and will expect retractions where required. We hope that by taking this action now, we can bring this deeply distressing campaign to an end.”
Integritas said it had “uncovered evidence of a very clear criminal campaign, organised by a small group of individuals seemingly intent on causing harm to Mr Watt and BrewDog.
Guardian story
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