Danny Meyer’s Restaurant Group Allegedly Mishandled Abuse

"I found that North End Grill was the center of multiple staff complaints about former chef Eric Korsh: eight staffers told reporters he gave unsolicited shoulder massages to female staffers, made inappropriate comments about female customers he found attractive, regularly lost his temper with kitchen and front-of-house staff, and targeted at least one back waiter, Catherine Woodard, by texting her constantly, trying to feed her, asking her to come to his apartment, and sending a photo of her from behind. Korsh denies the accusations, but employees say he was complained about repeatedly (twice in his first year, again in 2015, and twice more in 2016) and that many women left because his behavior didn’t improve. Staffers also described meetings with longtime HR head Angie Buonpane as demoralizing—one employee said she was asked for “additional evidence” and felt cross-examined—and reported that even when Korsh reportedly met with HR and was said to have “changed,” women still left. One former employee called Danny Meyer’s “employees first” mantra misleading and a “false trap,” arguing the company did not act as it claimed." - Chris Crowley