Ted Baker staff have united to try and halt what they claim is a culture of "forced hugs" and unwanted shoulder massages at the company's head office.
More than 60 current or former staff have raised complaints about the firm's founder Ray Kelvin, saying he has been giving them unwanted hugs and shoulder massages in their offices.
The staff used campaigning platform Organise to launch a petition which has so far been signed by more than 1,000 people.
The signatories include nearly 200 current or former employees, it is understood.
Ted Baker said it would "carefully consider" the findings of an independent investigation.
"While the claims made are entirely at odds with the values of our business and those of our CEO, we take them very seriously," the company said.
“Ray greets many people he meets with a hug – be it a shareholder, investor, supplier, partner, customer or colleague."
The firm denied that the hugging was 'forced saying: "Hugs have become part of Ted Baker’s culture, but are absolutely not insisted upon."
