Several employees of Philip Green who alleged the tycoon had sexually harassed or bullied them were given enormous seven-figure secret payouts to settle their claims, the Guardian has learned.
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One incident of alleged harassment that led to a substantial payout was dismissed by a senior manager because “he didn’t really seem to think that there was anything wrong”, the insider told the Guardian.
“I don’t think he thought Philip was doing anything wrong, I think he just saw it as, that’s how it is.”
In that instance and others where staff raised grievances, “it was just a case of, to make sure this doesn’t go to court and to make sure nobody finds out, how many zeros do you want on the end of this cheque?”
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The source described a culture inside Arcadia’s Colegrave House headquarters in central London in which Green was “generally feared”
“One thing that he said and did a lot, was walk into meeting rooms unannounced, because that is his vibe, and he would ask the women in the room, were they behaving, were they being naughty girls, and did they need their bottom slapped. That is almost his standard way of introducing himself into a room.”
The women present would react with “nervous laughter”, but rarely complained.
Green was also “very physical” with women, according to the source. “There were lots of hugs with women, particularly with senior women. I would describe them as overly long, lingering hugs.
“He would walk into meeting rooms that he didn’t need to be in, he would just walk in, say hi to people and hug all the women in the room. His hands weren’t anywhere inappropriate, just around their backs, but they would be quite long, not just a quick, hey how are you hug.” The men in the room would be greeted with a handshake.
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Guardian LINK)
