Ted Baker boss, 62, is accused of 'forced hugging, sexual inuendos, and making people sit on his knee' by staff as they demand an end to behavior

  • Ray Kelvin, 62, the company's founder is alleged to have harassed employees 
  • A staff member posted a petition online claiming he made them sit on his knee 
  • Kelvin was also accused of getting staff to massage his ears in the workplace

Ray Kelvin, the company's founder, refuses to show his whole face in photos

Ray Kelvin, the company's founder, refuses to show his whole face in photos

Ted Baker staff have launched a petition against their boss to demand he stops hugging them.

Ray Kelvin, 62, the founder of the high street giant, was also accused of stroking employee's necks and making sexual innuendos in the petition.

According to the petition, launched by a Ted Baker employee, Kelvin also allegedly asked staff to sit on his knee and 'massaged their ears'.  

But the company hit back by saying hugs are 'part of Ted Baker's culture although absolutely not insisted upon'. 

'I've seen the CEO ask young female members of staff to sit on his knee, cuddle him, or let him massage their ears,' the online petition read.

'The owner regularly makes sexual innuendos at staff and took off his shirt on one occasion and talked about his sex life.

Staff at the high street giants also accused Kelvin of making them sit on his knee and taking his shirt off

Staff at the high street giants also accused Kelvin of making them sit on his knee and taking his shirt off

'So many people have left the business due to harassment, whether that be verbal, physical or sexual.'

The petition also claimed Kelvin had failed to challenge harassment in the workplace.

The employee called for an independent external body to review the culture of the company.

Ted Baker, however, told the Sunday Times, that the allegations were 'at odds with the values of the business and CEO'.

'Ray greets many people he meets with a hug, be it a shareholder, investor, supplier, partner customer or colleague,' the company said. 

It has previously been claimed that Kelvin decided to ditch handshakes because of problems with arthritis. 

Kelvin is worth £522million according to the Sunday Times Rich List and founded the company despite having failed his maths O-level. 

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