WeWork has instituted a four-beer limit for its tenants just weeks after a female ex-employee who complained of sexual assault by colleagues sued the company.
The office sharing giant is limiting its members to four 12-ounce pours of beer – a reversal of its previous policy of allowing unlimited beer consumption.
WeWork announced the change in policy in an email to its users.
The change, whch is part of a ‘pilot program,’ went into effect in its New York City offices on Tuesday, according to MarketWatch.
Employees will only be able to obtain beer through taps by using the same key card that enables them to enter the building.
The taps will only be available between the hours of 12pm and 8pm in order to prevent early morning and late-night drinking.
‘WeWork has been working on piloting an innovative, software-driven mechanism to help manage the provision of alcohol in our spaces for some time,’ a company spokeswoman told MarketWatch.
WeWork has instituted a four-beer limit for its tenants just weeks after a female ex-employee who complained of sexual assault by colleagues sued the company
The office sharing giant is limiting its members to four 12-ounce pours of beer – a reversal of its previous policy of allowing unlimited beer consumption. The above image shows an event at WeWork’s New York City headquarters on June 14, 2016
‘In addition to the supervision already provided by our community management team, mechanized tap controls will enhance this amenity we provide to our members.’
On October 11, Ruby Anaya, 33, filed suit in Manhattan Supreme Court alleging that the company fostered a ‘frat house’ work environment.
Anaya alleged that she was sexually assaulted by two different male co-workers in separate incidents in August 2017 and January 2018.
When she reported the alleged incidents to human resources, the company decided not to take disciplinary action.
According to the lawsuit, Anaya reported the incident to WeWork co-founder Miguel McKelvey.
Anaya says she was fired from the company on August 3 after she expressed ‘disagreement and distress’ over the decision not to fire the second alleged assailant.
She also protested what she claims was the company policy of unequal pay based on gender.
Anaya joined the office rental company’s technology department as a director of product management in 2014 and became WeWork’s director of culture in 2017.
The suit claims she had just finished presenting an award at a company-wide ‘Summit’ event in January of this year when she tripped over one of her heels as she tried to ‘navigate the large and alcohol-infused crowd’.
Anaya put her hand on a man’s shoulder to regain her balance, and as she apologized and explained that she’d stumbled, the man grabbed her waist and ‘forcibly kissed her’, the suit says.
On October 11, Ruby Anaya, 33, filed suit in Manhattan Supreme Court alleging that the company fostered a ‘frat house’ work environment
She promptly shoved the man away and slapped him, but he ‘just smiled at her’.
The suit alleges that during Anaya’s interview, WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann asked whether she drank tequila, and then poured her shots after she said yes.
The company also stocks free beer at its locations and pressures employees to attend a ‘mandated happy hour every Friday’, according to the suit.
WeWork responded to the suit, calling Anaya’s allegations ‘meritless’.
‘WeWork has always been committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive and safe workplace,’ a spokesperson said in a statement.
‘WeWork investigated this employee’s complaints, took appropriate action, and this employee was terminated solely because of her poor performance.’
The spokesperson said Anaya had ‘received negative performance reviews, including one more than a year before she was terminated,’ and that she was ‘rated as one of the lowest performers on her team, based on feedback from her peers and managers’.
‘Upon being terminated, she acknowledged her poor performance and that she hadn’t been showing up to work regularly,’ the statement said.
‘She even expressed concerns about her performance to a colleague shortly before her termination.’
The lawsuit, however, says Anaya ‘received almost exclusively positive feedback on her work efforts and performance’ and ‘only positive performance reviews’ up until her firing.
WeWork is a global company with offices in 64 cities that cater to 175,000 users.