Sam Adams Employees Are Complaining About Their Work Environments on Reddit

This sounds like a total nightmare. In Vermont, I think of so many brewers who started at other breweries, got their sea legs and started out with their own operation which then in turn became world class breweries. The experiences at Sam Adams sounds like a straight up nightmare.

 

Didn’t Dick Cantwell have a non compete that kept him out of the game for wa while when he left Elysian after the ABI purchase?

 

That sounds terrible.

What exactly does the non-compete agreement cover? Is there a length of time in which you could wait out and then go start brewing or selling for another brewery or is it a lifetime agreement?

I'm not familiar with this item, particularly Sam Adam's use of it.

EDIT: My question got answered below. Thanks!

 

Of course, I personally believe everything I read on the Internet, especially if it was posted by someone with an agenda. That just adds to the credibility.

 

Usually for X years.

One could go to California and go to work, as non competes are void in California.

 

Ahh, makes sense. Thanks for the quick reply!

Interesting fact about California.

 

I've had non compete clauses in contracts and how long they last and what is in them depends on who wrote them and what state they are in. I had two in particular that I ignored. Nothing happened. Generally no matter how stringent they are, they can not prevent you from earning a living. Best advice - talk to an attorney because often they contain parts that are unenforceable or cost more money than they are worth to enforce.

Basically if you are a franchise player that their business depends on and you leave they will go after you no matter what kind of paper you have signed. If you are a little mouse or a utility infielder, they will probably ignore you no matter how elaborate the non-compete agreement is.

 

And the elephant in the room? Boston Beer is losing market share but they're pushing Twisted Tea and Angry Orchard first? I guess that makes sense though, you can only push it so far, and to be honest I'm glad I'm seeing less Sam Adams on tap. For so long they always had that one "seasonal" tap... now they don't.

 

If it made sense, they probably would not be losing market share.

 

Funny about the non-compete clause. One of the first things I’ve told potential employers over the last 3 or so years is that I’d be happy to sign confidentiality agreements, but that I am not going to sign a non-compete. I think during that span I interviewed for 4 different positions and it was never a deal breaker for them.

 

Twisted Tea is selling well? Could've fooled me. We've stopped carrying it where I work due to poor sales. It's a total afterthought compared to the million and one other FMBs on the shelf.

 

This seems much ado about nothing:

A sales person being asked to travel? Shocker!

If you don't like the terms of a contract, don't sign it and don't take the job. You had the option to work for about 5,000 other breweries.

And any of the other stuff about non-beer has been going on at BBC for a long time. They started hard cider in 1997, and tea in 2000. So unless this person has been there 20+ years, they didn't do their research before being hired.

 

That's what at least one industry analyst says, quoted in Baron's:

And in BBC Third Quarter Report:

As for the non-complete clause, BBC sued Anchor over it a few years ago (sued in Mass., even though the employee lived and worked in Calif.). The case was settled, but settlement itself was not disclosed.
Sam Adams Brewer Ends Contract Row With Ex-Exec, Anchor

Anchor's reaction to the suit at the time

 

To summarize what I think the person said:

"When I signed a contract I didn't understand what I was signing so now I feel that the agreements I signed should not apply to me."

 

Non compete clauses have their place. You don't want to train someone for ten years in your restaurant just to have them quit and open up a competing place across the street. Yet the clauses are limited as to time and distance, and of course everything can be negotiated.

 

I still have 3 6-packs on my shelf that I haven't been able to get rid of in 8 months. People tried it and never bought it again. I can't wait to clear it out and use that slot for a good selling product.

 

You can always play the "why did you take the job" game but the fact of the matter is, even the crappiest employers eventually find someone. People need jobs and their aren't enough good ones to go around. Not to say that the individual is completely blameless here, but ultimately if the working conditions are poor at BBC, that is significant, even if any one person can choose not to work there.

If there's something worth discussing here, it's what kind of company BBC is. I don't really care if this particular person make a good career decision or not.

 

Non-Compete = Won't work for you.
I am all for agreeing to not poaching a client for a short time after leaving a firm or being let go but when they bust out the you cannot work clause for x years etc. I tell them to pound sand. Anyone that wants to take away your ability to earn a living is not worth working for, least that is my attitude in life, never signed one never will.
Cheers.

 

I agree with this. It is a prime example that "Craft Breweries" are not all sunshine and rainbows. It's about the bottom line - even if that means selling flavored malt beverages.