3rd Dec 2018 11:37
LONDON (Alliance News) - Shares in Ted Baker PLC lost 12% in value Monday morning after harassment allegations were made by employees against the chain's founder & chief executive, Ray Kelvin.
The fashion retailer's shares were trading at 1,603.00 pence each, down 12%, one of the worst fallers in the FTSE 250 index of London mid-cap stocks.
The company's staff have launched a online petition on website Organise Platform to put an end to forced "hugging" and inappropriate touching and comments by Kelvin.
https://platform.organise.org.uk/campaigns/ted-baker-petition
The petition has been signed by over 2,400 people. It is unclear as to how many are current or former employees of the company.
On Sunday, Sky News reported that more than 60 people had come forward to launch the online petition, detailing alleged experiences with Kelvin and calling for the company to end its "awkward hugging policy". The complainants claimed Kelvin would give unwanted hugs, shoulder massages and kisses on the back of their ears at the company's London head office.
Ted Baker said in a statement it would make sure an independent investigation was carried out.
"While the claims made are entirely at odds with the values of our business and those of our CEO, we take them very seriously. Ray greets many people he meets with a hug - be it a shareholder, investor, supplier, partner, customer or colleague. Hugs have become part of Ted Baker's culture, but are absolutely not insisted upon," the company said in a statement.
https://news.sky.com/story/ted-baker-employees-complain-of-founders-awkward-hugging-policy-11569607
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