‘He became more explicit, talking about basically a scene of rape’

A FORMER employee at risque Australian lingerie chain Honey Birdette has revealed how workers were sexually harassed by customers.

THEY claimed it was all about empowering women.

But it wasn’t until Chanelle Rogers left the employment of risque Australian lingerie company Honey Birdette that she found her voice.

When she told a manager about a customer detailing a rape scene while she was alone in the store, she was told “turn the music up and get on with the day and don’t let it affect my sales”.

She then knew it was time to get out.

Her complaints describe a company culture of bullying, where employees are told to “suck it up” when they complain about being sexually harassed or intimidated by customers.

It has gained national attention following a protest at Honey Birdette’s Melbourne store this week.

She has been joined by other former Honey Birdette employees, known as “Honeys” by the lingerie chain, who have echoed her claims and signed a petition started by Ms Rogers.

Ms Rogers revealed seeing “women mocked for daring to apply for a job at Honey Birdette”.

“I saw workers humiliated and threatened by management because they weren’t wearing perfectly applied lipstick all day, their heels weren’t high enough, and because they didn’t ‘talk the way a Honey should talk’.”

The way a Honey should talk, Ms Rogers says, is detailed in a “handbook” which encourages staff to “pout” and use phrases like “come hither” and “spank me if I’m wrong” when dealing with customers of what is billed on Honey Birdette’s Facebook page as “Australia’s first sensuality boutique”.

‘I wanted somebody to tell me I was going to be OK,’ says Chanelle Rogers. Picture: Nicola Bernardi

Ms Rogers also said the company’s “suggestion” that staff didn’t take breaks resulted in “hours and hours of unpaid overtime we were expected to do”.

“From starting early and finishing late, to skipping lunch breaks and toilet breaks due to the pressure of missing a sale,” she said.

Honey Birdette has stayed largely silent, but labelled the reports “mistruths”.

“We are all about empowering women and supporting our wonderful staff. We are disappointed about the mistruths that have been reported recently,” customer relations manager Claire Mast said in an email.

“Thank you for your concern, at this stage Honey Birdette does not wish to comment further.”

Ms Rogers isn’t surprised by the silence: she claims that’s pretty much what she got from management after detailing to them her terrifying 15-minute encounter with a customer when alone at work two years ago.

“He wanted a specific item, and I was trying to help him, when it got weird,” Ms Rogers told news.com.au.

“He was following me around the store, at some times standing right behind me, as he talked, and I’d move away and he would follow. He started talking about watching his wife being cornered in a room by 15 men, all trying to sexually assault her.

“I ended up on one side of the counter, just desperate to put some space between us.

“He became more explicit, talking about basically a scene of rape, telling me in explicit detail about the pleasure he gained from the voyeurism.

“I didn’t ask him to leave because I had no idea how to handle the situation because it’s drummed into you so much to just potentially serve a customer.”

Eventually, the man made his purchase and left. Alone in the store, Ms Rogers rang her area manager.

“I wanted somebody to tell me I was going to be OK and that wasn’t even remotely discussed emotionally whatsoever,” she says.

The scene at this week’s protest.

“The response went along the lines of ‘taking it on the chin’, ‘boys will be boys’ and ‘to turn the music up and get on with the day and don’t let it affect my sales’.”

Ms Rogers left Honey Birdette’s employment after her hours were cut from about 20 hours a week to three.

“They said I was being cut because of my sales records, but they stacked up,” she says.

“I think because I was always the one asking why, telling them about similar problems with other staff, consoling those staff, asking why things were as they were, highlighting concerns. I was just too much.”

Ms Rogers still works in retail, for a similar company, where she feels “valued and safe”.

Honey Birdette’s website details its history of being set up by two friends who, “tired of not being able to find provocative lingerie and luxury bedroom accessories set out to inject a sense of sensuality into the Australian bedroom”.

It was created in by Eloise Monaghan and Janelle Barboza (who has since left). Billionaire retailer Brett Blundy's BB Retail Capital later bought in, and the chain has expanded internationally with stores in London and Los Angeles.

Its website describes its employees, “Our Honeys” as playing “the lead role in delivering the Honey Birdette experience to you”.

“Our Honeys are here to not only empower women but to entertain them. They are never afraid of a little showbiz and razzle-dazzle, the kind of exaggerated playfulness that many fashion brands lack,” it continues.

The chain’s Facebook page has today played host to criticism from customers in the wake of the protest, with calls to improve work practices, or lose customers.

Britta Chu wrote: “Until your stances on sexual harassment, workplace safety and the rights of your workers are reviewed and implemented I will not shop at your stores anymore. I will also encourage any family or friends to do so.”

Rachel Katz said: “It’s nearly 2017 ... decent treatment of staff, paying them for working overtime, and their general safety should be a no brainier.”

Ms Rogers’ petition has more than 5600 signatures, and calls on Honey Birdette to: “Stop encouraging the sexual harassment of their staff by customers; implement policies and training to deal with harassment and bullying from customers and end their sexist dress code”.

Her protest is being supported by the Young Workers Centre.

The centre’s co-ordinator Keelia Fitzpatrick said they had been contacted by many former employees.

“Honey Birdette claims to be about ‘empowering women’ — but the only people Honey Birdette are empowering are customers who want to sexually harass women,” she said.

‘Unwrap me’ is the caption on this shot of one of the items on offer at Honey Birdette. Picture: Facebook

Originally published as ‘He became more explicit, talking about basically a scene of rape’