UNIONS have called time on bad bosses after BrewDog head James Watt announced today that he is stepping down from the company he co-founded after 17 years.

Mr Watt will hand over the reins to chief operating officer James Arrow, but will remain with the group as a non-executive director on the board.

His tenure has been marred by controversy in recent years.

The firm was accused by former workers in an open letter in 2021 of having a “culture of fear” within the business, with “toxic attitudes” towards junior staff.

“Being treated like a human being was sadly not always a given for those working at BrewDog,” the letter stated.

It claimed staff were left “burnt out, afraid and miserable.”

Mr Watt apologised to staff and since insisted the group has made changes after the open letter was published.

In 2022, former workers also accused Mr Watt of inappropriate behaviour in BBC documentary The Truth About BrewDog.

Mr Watt called the documentary a “hatchet job” and complained to Ofcom, which ruled that he and BrewDog had not been treated unfairly.

In December 2022, the group lost its B Corp status, which is awarded to companies that follow ethical principles.

And in January, the company also faced a backlash after revealing it would no longer hire new staff on the “real” living wage, instead paying the lower legal minimum wage.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “This should be cautionary tale to bad bosses. 

“If you slash workers’ pay and conditions you will be called out in public and your business will suffer. 

“BrewDog’s success has been built on the back of its workforce. They deserve to be valued properly. 

“My message to the new CEO is simple — pay your staff the real living wage.”