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| UNiDAYS founder denies sexual harassment claims | UNiDAYS founder denies sexual harassment claims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The chief executive of popular student discount site UNiDAYS has strongly denied claims made against him in an anonymous online petition. | |
| More than 750 people have signed a letter accusing Josh Rathour, who set up the company in 2011, of sexual harassment and bullying. | More than 750 people have signed a letter accusing Josh Rathour, who set up the company in 2011, of sexual harassment and bullying. |
| The allegations were made on Organise, a campaign website that hosted a petition against the boss of Ted Baker. | The allegations were made on Organise, a campaign website that hosted a petition against the boss of Ted Baker. |
| A spokesperson said Mr Rathour "would welcome any investigation". | A spokesperson said Mr Rathour "would welcome any investigation". |
| UNiDAYS, which offers money off clothes, gadgets, music, transport and food has grown into a global brand. | UNiDAYS, which offers money off clothes, gadgets, music, transport and food has grown into a global brand. |
| The site, and accompanying app, both marketed at "Generation Z," boasts 10 million members. | The site, and accompanying app, both marketed at "Generation Z," boasts 10 million members. |
| Its many partners include Adidas, Asos, Microsoft, Nike and Topshop. | Its many partners include Adidas, Asos, Microsoft, Nike and Topshop. |
| The petition, which was published on Saturday, claims inappropriate behaviour at UNiDAYS was "rife and wholly unchecked". | The petition, which was published on Saturday, claims inappropriate behaviour at UNiDAYS was "rife and wholly unchecked". |
| It also alleges that some staff were made to sign so-called "gagging orders" - effectively banning them from disclosing their grievances. | It also alleges that some staff were made to sign so-called "gagging orders" - effectively banning them from disclosing their grievances. |
| UNiDAYS' human resources team, it adds, "wilfully ignored reports of harassment". | UNiDAYS' human resources team, it adds, "wilfully ignored reports of harassment". |
| A spokesperson for Mr Rathour said he was "confident any investigation will not find any truth in the allegations about his behaviour at work". | A spokesperson for Mr Rathour said he was "confident any investigation will not find any truth in the allegations about his behaviour at work". |
| The spokesperson added that the culture at UNiDAYS was inclusive and respectful and that half the line managers were female. | The spokesperson added that the culture at UNiDAYS was inclusive and respectful and that half the line managers were female. |
| A source close to the firm claimed none of the allegations detailed in the petition had officially been put to the company. | A source close to the firm claimed none of the allegations detailed in the petition had officially been put to the company. |
| Mr Rathour, 36, has been celebrated for his entrepreneurship. | Mr Rathour, 36, has been celebrated for his entrepreneurship. |
| His firm, which is headquartered in Nottingham, has offices in London, New York and Sydney, and employs more than 250 people worldwide. | His firm, which is headquartered in Nottingham, has offices in London, New York and Sydney, and employs more than 250 people worldwide. |
| In 2015, UNiDAYS was crowned Digital Business of the Year in 2015. | In 2015, UNiDAYS was crowned Digital Business of the Year in 2015. |
| Allegations of harassment at the company had appeared on the workplace review site Glassdoor, but have since been removed. | Allegations of harassment at the company had appeared on the workplace review site Glassdoor, but have since been removed. |
| Nat Whalley, the founder of Organise which is hosting the current petition, said it was started by a group of former UNiDAYS employees. | Nat Whalley, the founder of Organise which is hosting the current petition, said it was started by a group of former UNiDAYS employees. |
| She says they were inspired by a similar petition against Ray Kelvin, the founder of Ted Baker, calling for an end to "forced hugging" and a culture of harassment. | She says they were inspired by a similar petition against Ray Kelvin, the founder of Ted Baker, calling for an end to "forced hugging" and a culture of harassment. |
| Mr Kelvin has now taken a leave of absence while the company conducts an independent external investigation into the claims. | Mr Kelvin has now taken a leave of absence while the company conducts an independent external investigation into the claims. |