Charlotte company pledges to ‘be better’ after former worker’s sex harassment complaint
A Charlotte business is promising to improve sexual harassment training after a former worker complained about the company on social media.
An Instagram story post this week about the complaint did not name GoodRoad CiderWorks. But company founder Brian Beauchemin said in a letter posted Wednesday on GoodRoad’s website and social media sites that the Instagram post summarized the alleged sexual harassment by one of its investors toward an employee who later quit.
“Since her post the investor has acknowledged responsibility for his actions. In light of these new details, we are severing ties with this investor,” Beauchemin said in the letter.
The company initially had nine investors, Beauchemin told the Observer on Thursday. Now there are eight remaining.
The complaint was posted on @emboldenactadvance under “NC stories”, where people anonymously share stories of harassment in the alcohol industry and provide resources. GoodRoad brews alcoholic ciders and meads.
Beauchemin told the Observer the issues that led to the complaint happened about three years ago.
“We applaud (the former worker) for having the courage to make a public statement as that has helped to bring forward the new information,” Beauchemin said in the letter.
The Instagram post
The harassment started with comments, then in text messages and escalated to “invading my personal, physical space” during a company holiday party, the ex-worker wrote in her Instagram post.
The ex-worker also received flowers and poems from a secret admirer, whom florists helped to identify as the married investor, according to the Instagram post.
Despite telling the company owner about the incidents and being told the company “had my back,” the ex-worker wrote on Instagram that the investor continued to come into the cidery.
The employee said she left the “toxic environment” for a new job.
Beauchemin said in the letter “we truly regret what occurred and we commit to be better, to do better and to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
The company plans to educate its staff on issues related to sexual harassment as well as racial equity and inclusion. Beauchemin said the company, with nine full- and part-time employees, three of whom are investors, will likely undergo in-person and online training programs.
GoodRoad opened four years ago in Lower South End on Southside Drive near Sugar Creek Brewing, The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Great Wagon Road Distilling Co. and Doc Porter’s Distillery.
Last fall, GoodRoad collaborated on a Black is Beautiful project that supports justice and equality for people of color. GoodRoad also is participating in the Many Faces Initiative that helps promote employing more people of color in the craft industry with a paid 10-week brewery internship program.
“While we are disappointed and saddened that any of this has occurred, we look forward to continuing to ensure we are a company with a culture that is inclusive, has a culture that does not tolerate harassment, and are swift to address issues as they arise,” Beauchemin said in the interview.
This story was originally published June 11, 2021 at 11:03 AM.