About 15 staff from the Bodyline sex-on-premises business were left without a job over the Easter break after Sauna X by 357 took over the venue, GSN can reveal.
It comes as Sauna X confirmed it would re-open the venue on April 15 and had re-hired three of Bodyline’s former staff.
Two former Bodyline casual staff members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told GSN they were told they no longer had a job on Thursday, March 28 – the day before the four-day Easter holiday weekend and the same day GSN revealed Bodyline had closed and would re-open under new management.
The former staff were granted anonymity by GSN so they could speak candidly.
“All of Bodyline’s staff (myself included) were made aware of the closing of the venue [on the Thursday] morning via text message without any prior knowledge and that all our current rostered and future shifts were to be cancelled,” the staff member told GSN.
“Many of the employees had that job alone and now have no other employment,” they continued. “Half the employees are also there on a visa, expected to pay rent and must find a new job ASAP, which is increasingly difficult over the Easter long weekend.”
The staff member said it was “another sting” knowing that Bodyline staff were being “replaced by the staff [from] 357 instead of carrying [over] our employment with the new owner”.
“This isn’t meant to target any one individual from the business, but as a casual worker this kind of behaviour from a company is so callous and is so detrimental to our wellbeing…”
A second Bodyline staff member confirmed they also found out via text that Bodyline was being closed.
“So on [that] Thursday we all found out Bodyline was being shut down immediately. None of us knew, not even Kaiden our manager.
“Everyone who worked at Bodyline was casual except … Kaiden, as he was manager. Kaiden was honestly the greatest manager anyone could have.
“He was loyal, compassionate, caring and approachable.
“Many of us … are still looking for a new job. Luckily most of the team had another job and used Bodyline for weekend/night work.”
Three of Bodyline’s staff members have since been re-hired by Sauna X, new owner Glenn McNamara confirmed.
“Whilst I obviously can’t take that many of the staff because 357 staff are coming here, I have hired three of those who have reached out to me,” he told GSN.
McNamara was the manager of the sauna known as 357 in the CBD, which will shortly close as staff transition over to Sauna X, which is in Darlinghurst.
Shadd Danesi, who owned the Bodyline business and is now leasing the venue to Sauna X, told GSN the short notice to staff was “unfortunate” and that it “wasn’t the ideal position” to be in.
“From my point of view, it wasn’t something that I enjoyed,” he said of staff being let go. “But it [the immediate handover of the business] was the way the deal was structured…
“I want to stress how appreciative I am to Kaiden [the manager] and the staff.”
Danesi said that due to a confidentiality agreement required by the new owner before the sale, he was unable to give staff more notice of Bodyline’s closure.
“I was not at liberty to speak to anyone or tell anyone what was occurring,” he said. “They [Sauna X] had their various business reasons as to why they wanted that [confidentiality agreement] and I can’t comment any further than that.”
Danesi said the business sale was “not like a normal” sale “where you get an exchange and then there’s a period of time, and then you have a settlement”.
“This was a simultaneous exchange and settlement which occurred on the Thursday morning. So it all happened on one day.
“The negotiations didn’t happen on one day, but the actual commitment to each other happened on one day.
“Up until that time, I [personally] would have proceeded. But it [the deal] could have fallen apart at any stage and they [Sauna X] might not have proceeded to buy it [Bodyline].
“Not only did I have a confidentiality agreement, I couldn’t go out and tell the staff because… you know as I know… things get out there [leak].
“And if it didn’t proceed… it would’ve been ridiculous saying something [to staff] that didn’t actually [eventuate].”
Danesi said he shut down Bodyline and signed a lease agreement with Sauna X to take over the venue as he wished to retire from owning Bodyline. That same week Danesi also sold the ARQ nightclub business to Home The Venue’s owner.
“I’m 72 years old,” he said.
“I find these businesses very draining on me. They take a lot out of you; they’re late-night businesses.
“You need to be on top of it all.”
Danesi said retirement to him looked like spending time with his dog (“who I happen to love very much”), looking after his garden, doing “a little bit of travel”, maintaining his other financial interests “to keep me occupied”, and just “enjoying myself because I’ve always worked extremely hard, 7 days a week”.
Ben Grubb is the founder and editor of Gay Sydney News, an independent publication covering LGBTQIA+ news. A journalist with more than 15 years' experience, he has reported and edited for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAToday, Brisbane Times, The Australian Financial Review, News.com.au, ZDNet, TelecomTimes and iTnews, primarily on the topic of technology. He previously hosted The Informer, a queer current affairs program on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station, and contributes to LGBTQIA+ media including Stun Magazine. Ben has also appeared as a technology commentator on Channel Ten's The Project, ABC RN’s Download This Show and commercial radio stations 2UE, 2GB and 6PR. Contact Ben: ben.grubb@gaysydneynews.com.au
