Country Road employees are bracing themselves for widespread job cuts, as the embattled retailer struggles to generate sales amid allegations it has a corporate culture rife with bullying and sexual harassment.
Country Road Group, whose brands include Country Road, Trenery, Mimco, Witchery and Politix, has drafted in Sydney-based consultancy firm Bendelta to help repair its bruised corporate culture.
Staff at the retailing giant, which recorded a five per cent slide in sales for the first half of the 2024 financial year, have alleged that their complaints of sexual harassment, racism and bullying were mishandled by management.
But insiders at at the company’s Melbourne HQ fear that the external consultants will preside over a company restructure, leading to heavy job losses, reported The Australian.
Bendelta consultants have already begun meeting with some of Country Road Group’s almost 7,000 employees.
Roy Bagattini, the chief executive of South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings which owns Country Road Group, reportedly sought to calm staff fears with a visit to the company’s central office in Burnley, in Melbourne’s east, earlier this month.
His visit came in the wake of last week’s departure of Country Road boss Elle Roseby, who was seen as a strong defender of aggrieved employees.
Country Road Group, whose brands include Country Road, Trenery, Mimco, Witchery and Politix, has drafted in Sydney-based consultancy firm Bendelta to help repair its bruised corporate culture
Staff at the retailing giant, which recorded a five per cent slide in sales for the first half of the 2024 financial year, have alleged that their complaints of sexual harassment, racism and bullying were mishandled by management (stock image)
In May, it emerged that the retailer was dealing with allegations of sexual harassment and workplace bullying.
The scandal led to the departure of two senior executives.
Daily Mail Australia approached Country Road Group for comment.
