Employee walkout at Slate Coffee's Ballard store triggers discussion about 'toxic' work environments
On an early Saturday morning last month in Ballard, five baristas taped resignation letters to the front door of Slate Coffee Roasters in hope of shaming their bosses for issuing late paychecks and for failing to address what they claim is a “toxic work environment.”
Slate, a local chain that was started in 2011 by Lisanne Walker and her son Keenan, has five locations in Seattle, including two in Pioneer Square, and one each in South Lake Union, University District and Ballard. The flagship shop in Ballard has remained shut since the walkout, but all of Slate’s other locations have stayed open.
In a phone interview with The Seattle Times this week, Walker acknowledged having paid the Slate Ballard employees late but denies allegations of a toxic work environment. She expressed a desire to hear out her employees’ complaints and work toward improvements.
“I’m really sorry that people are hurt and disappointed,” Walker said. “We need to go through all the things that people have concerns about. For us to be a better company, we need to address those things and make the working environment better for our employees.”
Read more: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/employee-walkout-at-slate-coffees-ballard-store-triggers-discussion-about-toxic-work-environments/