Certainly one of San Francisco’s most unique golf equipment is going through bombshell allegations of harassment and labor violations from two staff, together with demeaning slurs a couple of disabled dishwasher’s genitals and undesirable groping.
Rene Panti, a dishwasher since 2021 at The Battery, the elite invite-only membership frequented by politicians and celebrities, alleged in his lawsuit that he was berated weekly for 3 years by co-workers with discriminatory slurs, which administration did little about moreover asking workers to “keep skilled.”
The dishwasher was taunted as “hunchback” and “ineffective” as a result of his spinal situation, in keeping with the lawsuit, and one coworker even stated “your penis doesn’t work anymore.”
Panti has congenital scoliosis, which is curvature of the backbone.
He and one other employee filed separate lawsuits towards The Battery throughout the final two weeks, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, searching for unspecified damages for emotional misery and misplaced wages, amongst different penalties comparable to obligatory office coaching.
The alleged verbal harassment escalated to bodily harassment final 12 months, stated Panti, when coworkers would put their palms on his again regardless of him asking them to not. In a single occasion, he stated his nipples have been pinched.
As well as, the dishwasher alleged he was positioned on go away for a month as a result of his incapacity, leading to misplaced pay. When Panti requested for a promotion once more in 2022, the chef allegedly started to deal with him with hostility, comparable to assigning extreme workloads, allowing the coworkers’ harassment and denying him breaks.
Experiences to human assets resulted in no self-discipline, Panti alleged.
The shortage of promotions appears to be a key grievance for Panti, whose lawsuit claimed was particularly as a result of his incapacity. He was allegedly immediately instructed by a supervisor that he “won’t ever be promoted to work on the bar as a result of your bodily look doesn’t conform to the requirements of the corporate.”
“We’re assured that each allegation within the grievance shall be corroborated — by coworkers who labored alongside him, by paperwork, and by the Battery’s personal information,” Steven Chizen, Panti’s legal professional, instructed the Chronicle. “We stay up for proving this case to a San Francisco jury.”
The opposite worker, Donald James Goglio, sued The Battery for allegedly failing to pay minimal wages and extra time. There have been no correct breaks, he alleged, and enterprise bills weren’t reimbursed. All this was to “unfairly cheat the competitors and unlawfully revenue,” his lawsuit claimed.
A LinkedIn profile of the identical identify says he has been a entrance desk agent for The Battery since August 2025, the Chronicle reported.
The luxe membership firmly denied all of the allegations in a press release to the Chronicle and claimed Panti’s lawsuit omitted crucial information.
“The Battery doesn’t agree with the allegations or with the try to painting them as companywide violations,” the corporate stated. “The Battery maintains wage-and-hour insurance policies and timekeeping practices meant to adjust to California legislation and can defend these practices in court docket.”
The enterprise is among the most well-known within the Bay Space metropolis with its luxurious inside and invite-only memberships costing $2,400 per 12 months.
Founders and tech barons Michael and Xochi Birch turned a marble manufacturing unit and sweet warehouse into the membership in 2013.
The Battery boasts a number of eating areas, a wine cellar, private trainers, a spa and a resort. Previous shoppers reportedly have included main celebrities comparable to singer Justin Bieber and basketball star Kevin Durant.
One other previous buyer was previously rising Democrat Eric Swalwell, who resigned from Congress and dropped his gubernatorial bid in California after sexual assault allegations.
