Former Netflix VP seeks $1.1M severance in wrongful-termination suit

Former Netflix vice president Kevin Baillie seeks up to $1.1 million in severance in a wrongful-termination suit over his firing after a company retreat.

"Everybody's excited in the beginning of a relationship, but you always have to plan for what's going to happen at the end," Kathlyn Perez, a labor attorney not involved in the case, said.

Baillie, the streaming giant's former head of studios, says he was fired in April after an executive retreat near Lake Tahoe where he talked openly about taking ketamine to treat depression and drank a pint of Guinness while standing on his head. He contends the retreat centered on vulnerability and trust, so it was unfair for Netflix to hold his unfiltered behavior against him.

Baillie's employment contract didn't spell out what he would be owed if terminated. He says an "interim" executive promised substantial severance protection and represented that it didn't need to appear in his contract because it was a generally applicable company practice. Nine to 12 months' pay was standard, Baillie says he was told, the basis for his claim of $825,000 to $1.1 million.

Netflix declined to comment. An attorney for the company said the ketamine therapy factored into the termination, according to The New York Post, which also reported that alcohol use and alleged unprofessional conduct contributed to the firing.

Baillie's lawsuit also accuses Eyeline Studios CEO Jeff Shapiro of turning the retreat into an alcohol-fueled event condoned by leadership. The retreat took place at a company-owned ranch with a well-stocked open bar, according to court filings.

The case highlights the risks of "bring your whole self to work" initiatives, where employees are encouraged to share personal details. Baillie first disclosed his ketamine treatment during a job interview, then discussed it again at the retreat after a session "designed to elicit candor and personal disclosure," according to the suit.

The lawsuit also shows the importance of getting severance terms in writing. Baillie relied on the word of an interim executive who promised severance protection without putting it in his contract.

The outcome could set a precedent for how companies handle disclosures made during trust-building exercises. Baillie declined to comment further.

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