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Two more former Swillhouse staff members have come forward with claims of sexual assault.
This follows months of employees coming forward with their stories about assault, harassment and other workplace misconduct while working for the Sydney hospitality giant.
The volatile workplace environment full of ‘powerful people, drugs and vulnerable women’ has been exposed by a months-long investigation by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Swillhouse Group faces growing number of sexual assault allegations across venues
SMH spoke to former supervisor Reuby Kahl., who is one of five Swillhouse staff members to come out with varying claims of sexual assault, discrimination and forced coercion.
The staff were also allegedly encouraged by some managers to engage with customers sexually and ingest drugs while working, across Swillhouse’s vast network.
In May, Kahl claimed that they were ‘groped intentionally, firmly and disgustingly’ by a fellow employee. Although the alleged offender was fired, Kahl did not receive any reparations from Swillhouse and was allegedly aggressively told off by CEO Anton Forte.
Swillhouse and Forte have denied Kahl’s recollection stating that the conversation was ‘clearly misconstrued’.
Two more of Swillhouses previous employees, Claire Jones and Brittany Rowe, have come forth with similar allegations.
“I will not stop fighting for myself and other victim-survivors”
Jones, who has alleged she was sexually assaulted while working at the Hubert said “This is not something that only happened in the past, this is happening now. I will not accept their lies or their empty apologies.”
Although the company helped Jones in reporting the incident to NSW police, they later cut down her hours.
“This is who Swillhouse really is”
“This is how they treat their employees.” said Jones, “This is how they treat victims of abuse and sexual assault and see us as a ‘problem to get rid of’.”
Rowe alleges that she was ‘brutally assaulted’ at home by a coworker from Hubert.
“They let him continue to be employed there, and they offered me no resources, no support, nothing.
“If [speaking out] means that an 18-year-old girl working for them isn’t going to be assaulted, then it’s worth it.”
Multiple claims of sexual assault and misconduct at Swillhouse investigated by NSW Govt
According to SMH, the NSW government investigated claims of numerous allegations of sexual assault and harassment were mishandled within Swillhouse from five former staff. The alleged victims include Rachell ‘Rocky’ Hair, the forst female bartender employed in Swillhouse venues and 2018’s Australian Bartender of the year Jenna Hemsworth.
Another bartender who chose to remain anonymous alleges that she was sexually assaulted and isolated by superior staff.
Many more allegations have come out from former staff and corporate employees in regard to Swillhouse’s incredibly toxic culture.
The hospitality giant has responded alleging that they had no knowledge of such reports and have a zero tolerance policy for any kind of drug use, harassment and misconduct.
Anton Forte has stepped down as CEO of Swillhouse but continues to serve as managing director of his company.
