Brief - The Hustle

Huffing paint and hoarding cash: Away workers level new complaints

Written by Mark Dent | Jun 30, 2020 11:08:17 AM

Those initials on your Insta-trendy Away luggage may have been painted by staffers who were “zeeted” — AKA high as hell — on paint fumes.

A new report from The Verge, which previously had tracked workplace intimidation toward Away’s customer service team, details unhealthy conditions for its retail and monogramming staff.

  • Monogrammers worked this year in a room with no heat and paint fumes, leading staffers to complain about nausea, persistent headaches, and feeling “zeeted high key.”
  • Retail employees at Away’s brick-and-mortar locations have reported problems with mold and rodents.

Managers say they’ve had to carry bags with thousands of dollars in company cash to corporate HQ because Away refused to open bank accounts for them. 

Away CEO Steph Korey resigned December 9 after The Verge’s original reporting on the company’s toxic workplace culture.