As allegations of sexual harassment, assault and other workplace hostilities continue to surface on social media, the Brewers Association (BA) on Wednesday announced several initiatives to address the seemingly pervasive toxicity in the craft beer industry. violence-based violence in the craft brewing community, as well as ongoing conversations about inequity, discrimination and injustice more broadly, continue to underscore that in order to build a thriving and inclusive brewing community, breweries, distributors, suppliers and all businesses within the industry must be safe places that encourage respect, empowerment and freedom from harassment or discrimination of any kind,” the organization wrote.
Additionally, the BA received a second formal complaint on Wednesday about behavior that violates its code of conduct for members, a spokesperson told Brewbound. The first complaint arrived on Monday. All other complaint information is confidential.
A flurry of stories of harassment, assault and abuse began on social media last week when Brienne Allan, production manager of Salem, Massachusetts-based Notch Brewing, asked the women of the beer industry to share their experiences of discrimination. She posted them as stories on her Instagram account, “@magnetizing.”
What began as tales of sarcastic remarks and rude questions morphed into stories of toxic work environments, sexual harassment and sexual abuse. The founders of two well-known breweries – Modern Times, based in San Diego, and Tired Hands, based in Ardmore, Pa. – have resigned from their management positions and employees of other breweries have been fired after accusations from their predatory behavior appeared in Allan’s stories.
The BA and other beer industry organizations will form “a coalition to explore how our organizations can work together to provide the resources and support that businesses and individuals in the brewing industry need to create and sustain a culture of safety, inclusion and fairness”.
These organizations include the American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC), the Craft Beer HR Professionals Group (CBHR), the Master Brewers Association of the Americans (MBAA), and the Pink Boots Society (PBS).
“Achieving our shared vision of a safe, inclusive and equitable community will take a long-term, industry-wide effort, which the Brewers Association stands ready to lead,” the BA wrote, adding that she “can’t and shouldn’t”. alone.”
In addition to forming a multi-group coalition, the BA also plans to provide “an ongoing pipeline” of HR-focused content for members. The BA will add topical speakers to its seminar lineup for the Craft Brewers Conference in September and noted that the MBAA will do the same for its fall conference.
BA members also have access to a 50% discount on membership of WeVow, an advisory service that helps organizations “proactively address sexual harassment, while offering resources and support to any person who experiences it”. WeVow offers training, an incident reporting platform, sample language for sexual harassment policies, workplace signage, counseling sessions for victims, and HR guidance following reports of harassment.
