A legal battle is unfolding that forces Netflix and one of its production studios to address its internal workplace culture, particularly concerning alcohol consumption. Kevin Baillie, a former visual effects veteran who once contributed to major films like “Pirates of the Caribbean,” served as vice president and head of creative at Eyeline Studios, a production company owned by Netflix. Baillie, who earned $1.1 million annually in his role, was terminated in April following an internal investigation initiated after he disclosed taking ketamine under a doctor's care during a January work retreat.
Netflix attorneys have acknowledged that Baillie's "ketamine-therapy issue" played a role in his dismissal. However, Baillie contends that the treatment was entirely legitimate, prescribed by a doctor after his mother's passing and administered at a licensed clinic in Santa Barbara in late 2022. He is now suing for compensatory damages, back pay, emotional distress, and punitive damages, seeking a jury trial to resolve his claims.
The lawsuit extends beyond the circumstances of Baillie's termination, painting a detailed picture of a workplace where alcohol use was not merely tolerated but allegedly ingrained in the company's identity. Court filings describe alcohol consumption at company functions as "common, openly tolerated, and affirmatively encouraged." According to the suit, much of this culture originated from Eyeline Studios CEO Jeff Shapiro, who is accused of "set[ting] the cultural tone concerning alcohol at the executive level."
Specific allegations in the lawsuit highlight Shapiro's alleged conduct. One claim states that Shapiro stopped at a corner store to purchase beer before a company car ride to the Visual Effects Society Awards, subsequently sharing it with staff during the trip. Baillie’s attorneys assert this was not an isolated incident, citing more than half a dozen instances where the CEO was reportedly seen drinking at company gatherings. These events purportedly included Baillie's welcome dinner in September 2024, Netflix's Annual Business Review in March 2025, and a February 2026 Lakers game attended by senior Netflix executives, including Shapiro’s direct supervisor.
Furthermore, the lawsuit claims Shapiro maintained a personal bar stocked within his office, from which he allegedly poured drinks for Baillie on multiple occasions. This reportedly included a celebratory round following a productive meeting with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos. The suit also recounts an incident during the January retreat that preceded Baillie's termination, where staff members reportedly cheered him on as he performed a handstand while drinking a Guinness, a trick he attributes to his father-in-law.
Separately, the lawsuit details a company retreat held at a Netflix-owned property where staff were reportedly given free rein behind the bar. According to court records, ranch employees greeted arriving staff by stating, "sometimes we’ll have staff serving signature cocktails, and sometimes you’ll need to tend bar on your own."
Netflix has long been known for its unconventional workplace philosophy, promoting a "people over process" approach and an "(almost) no rules rule," as described on its careers page. The company's public materials encourage managers to lead through "context not control" rather than traditional oversight. However, the court filings indicate that nowhere in these public materials is there any written policy specifically addressing employee alcohol consumption. As the case progresses toward trial, both Baillie and Netflix are expected to present their differing accounts of the events leading to his dismissal and the nature of the workplace environment.
