A sacked Netflix govt has uncovered the streaming big’s controversial, alcohol-centric office — detailing a tradition fueled by late-night drinks, booze-heavy workforce offsites, and a CEO with a non-public bar, in keeping with a brand new lawsuit.
Courtroom paperwork obtained by The California Submit declare that alcohol consumption at firm occasions was “widespread, brazenly tolerated, and affirmatively inspired” to the purpose the place Jeff Shapiro, the chief govt of Eyeline Studios, allegedly bought alcohol for employees to share on their option to a piece occasion.
The revelations emerged as former Eyeline Studios vp and head of artistic, Kevin Baillie, sues the corporate for giving him the boot from his $1.1 million a yr job, after he admitted to colleagues at a piece retreat in January he had taken medically prescribed ketamine.
On the similar retreat, Baillie was inspired by fellow employees to drink a Guinness whereas standing on his head, after sharing he had discovered the trick from his father-in-law, in keeping with courtroom paperwork.
Netflix launched an investigation into the feedback and he was fired in April, with the corporate’s legal professional confirming the “ketamine-therapy challenge” was a think about his termination, in keeping with courtroom paperwork.
However Baillie insists the drug was taken underneath medical supervision in October and November 2022 at a Santa Barbara clinic, which was prescribed as a remedy following the demise of his mom.
Because the “Pirates of the Caribbean” visible results workforce member fights for compensation following his dismissal, scandalous particulars have emerged about Eyeline Studios’ boozy workplace tradition.
The lawsuit alleged “alcohol consumption was company-sponsored, leadership-modeled and condoned”, with a number of examples of how Jeff Shapiro “set the cultural tone regarding alcohol on the govt degree”.
The paperwork claimed Shapiro on one event bought beer at a nook retailer and introduced it to an organization automobile experience to the Visible Results Society Awards for employees to share.
Baillie claims he additionally witnessed the CEO devour alcohol with Netflix and Eyeline workers at his personal welcome dinner in September 2024, the Netflix Annual Enterprise Evaluation occasions in March 2025 and even a Lakers sport attended by Netflix execs together with Shapiro’s direct supervisor in February 2026.
All up, Baillie’s attorneys offered over half a dozen examples of the CEO being current at a piece occasion with a drink in his hand, in keeping with courtroom papers.
It was additionally alleged Shapiro maintained a private bar in his workplace and he served Baillie alcohol a number of instances, together with after a profitable assembly with Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos.
Workers at a Netflix owned and operated venue even inspired attendees visiting for a workforce offsite to “deal with the bar prefer it’s yours” after hours or when bartenders weren’t out there to serve them.
“At check-in, ranch employees expressly invited attendees to serve themselves, stating, in substance: ‘generally we’ll have employees serving signature cocktails, and generally you’ll must have a tendency bar by yourself’,” the paperwork stated.
Netflix prides itself on its “folks over course of” mantra, the place managers are anticipated to apply “context not management” and there’s an “(virtually) no guidelines rule” for employees, in keeping with its Netflix job’s web page. However there is no such thing as a point out of its alcohol coverage for workers.
Baillie is suing for compensatory damages, misplaced wages, damages for emotional misery and punitive damages as he seeks a jury trial.
The California Submit has contacted Netflix and Eyeline Studios for remark.
