We’re Brewing Beer and Taking Names.
Written by HRuprise founder, Rebecca Weaver.
“Is anyone else experiencing sexist comments?”
When Brienne Allan, head brewer and production manager at Notch Brewing in Salem, Massachusetts, posted this simple question on Instagram, she couldn’t have predicted the avalanche of response. Hundreds of women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ brewers began sharing their stories of being grabbed, objectified, underpaid, and propositioned, their careers stymied and livelihoods threatened by the sexist acts of their bosses, coworkers, and customers.
The food and beverage industry is a long holdout against radical change when it comes to discrimination and harassment at work. But that’s starting to change as more professionals like Brienne speak out. We’re proud to join the movement with Brave Noise, a global collaboration spearheaded by Brienne and Ash Eliot, alcohol marketer and founder of Women of the Bevolution, to advocate for a safe and discrimination-free beer industry.
Breweries can become part of Brave Noise by:
Creating a new code of conduct that promotes safety and opportunity for diverse employees;
Brewing Brave Noise Pale Ale and publishing the new code of conduct upon its release;
Donating proceeds to organizations that support the mission of Brave Noise; and
Committing to long-term change to create safe, inclusive environments.
HRuprise has created a guide for Brave Noise breweries on how to write their new code of conduct, and we’re offering personalized consulting to breweries needing further support in that process.
I’m damn proud to be part of this movement. Coming from corporate and startup HR, I have two decades’ worth of opinions on how to deal with harassment and discrimination in office environments. But the food and beverage industry is a new sector for HRuprise, and partnering with Brienne and Ash to apply our ethics of transparency, accountability and trust to the craft brewing industry has catalyzed my passion for building healthy work environments in a whole new way.
The food and beverage industry employs nearly 8 million Americans, many of whom work without paid leave, health care, or job security. These employees were among the hardest-hit by the pandemic through layoffs, pay decreases, and the health risks built into performing food service jobs during an airborne plague. (Line cooks and bakers suffered some of the highest mortality rates from Covid in 2020, with BIPOC cooks bearing up to 30% more of that risk than white cooks.) And food and beverage workers are more likely than any other category of employee to file complaints about harassment and discrimination at work.
Brave Noise represents a high-visibility opportunity for craft brewers to step up and take responsibility for these rampant issues in the industry. And, it represents a chance for HRuprise to support a new sector of employees who work in customer-facing and goods-producing roles. I’m honored and humbled to be part of this initiative. Because everyone has the right to work in a safe environment where they are valued and respected.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: REBECCA WEAVER
Rebecca Weaver is the Founder and CEO of HRuprise, a marketplace that connects people with HR coaches to help them grow, develop, and navigate their toughest workplace challenges. LEARN MORE
