Verbal abuse, bullying and humiliation: Honey Birdette employees allege ‘toxic work culture’

Former employees speak out in News.com.au exposé

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Via News.com.au

Honey Birdette staff slam ‘nasty’ company amid legal battle

A toxic work culture, censored risqué advertising and a court battle with a billionaire investor. The limelight isn’t unusual for retailer Honey Birdette.

EXCLUSIVE

When Rebecca* started working at lingerie retailer Honey Birdette, she thought she had landed her dream job.

The opportunity to work for a daring and “cutting edge” brand known for pushing the boundaries with explicit advertorial content excited her.

But that thrill quickly eviscerated when she was confronted by the “nasty” work environment which she claimed pitted staff members against one another, leaning heavily on a culture of fear as a source of motivation.

“It’s a feeling of being constantly on edge,” Rebecca, who requested her real name remain anonymous, told news.com.au.

“Almost everyone has had their job threatened and it doesn’t happen in private, it happens in office meetings.

“The area managers and retail managers get screamed at about the sales and they are told that they are lucky to have a job at Honey Birdette and can be easily replaced by someone better.”

She said the gaslighting included verbal abuse, and that she was told she was “useless” and was often yelled at if she didn’t wear high heels, all of which Honey Birdette emphatically denies.

Rebecca, who worked within the company’s audacious marketing team for about five years, said the treatment left her feeling “on edge and filled with anxiety”.

Read more: From dream job to 'nasty' abuse