Fashion Executive Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Workplace Harassment

Leaked emails and text messages have brought to light allegations of a hostile work environment at the luxury fashion label Bondi Born, reportedly involving founder Dale McCarthy and a senior executive earning $150,000 annually.

The communications, detailed in a report, show McCarthy allegedly instructing the executive, Dina Shawriah, to "use translation to your native language" and later accusing her of being "passive aggressive" and not adequately solving problems. Shawriah resigned from her position as head of operations just two months after being hired in January, citing overwhelming staffing shortages and McCarthy's "cutting remarks."

In one exchange, after Shawriah had difficulty activating a work card, McCarthy allegedly wrote: "Dina… Again…you must take your time and read instructions carefully and understand them. Use translation to your native language if you need to." IMAGE6

Another instance cited in the Fair Work Commission judgment involved McCarthy emailing Shawriah: "PLEASE - read my emails carefully and answer me in a way that SOLVES THE PROBLEM I am raising. This email does not do that." IMAGE8

Shawriah claimed she was driven to resign after enduring a string of such remarks. IMAGE2

McCarthy, a former Fairfax Media chief marketing officer, founded Bondi Born, a global luxury fashion label stocked in stores like Harrods in London. IMAGE5 IMAGE1

Bondi Born founder Dale McCarthy is pictured with creative director Karla Clarke at Australian Fashion Week in 2022. IMAGE3

The revelations have drawn criticism regarding McCarthy's management style. IMAGE7