EXCLUSIVE: BBC staff are maintaining their jobs even after they have been the topic of an upheld sexual harassment criticism, Deadline can reveal.
The UK nationwide broadcaster upheld 5 formal sexual harassment grievances within the three years to March 2024, with an additional case being partially upheld. Just one worker was fired for wrongdoing throughout this era, in accordance with figures obtained beneath a Freedom of Info Act (FOIA) request.
The BBC’s disciplinary file turns into starker when bullying and harassment figures are included. The company upheld or partially upheld a complete of 39 bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment complaints within the three years to March 2024, however solely 13 folks confronted disciplinary motion and one staffer was dismissed.
Briefly, when a BBC worker efficiently complained concerning the conduct of a colleague, the perpetrators escaped punishment in almost two-thirds of circumstances.
The revelation comes after Deadline reported on Thursday that confidence in complaints procedures has fallen sharply up to now 12 months, in accordance with the BBC workers survey. Solely 58% of BBC staff consider bullying or harassment issues can be handled appropriately, which was down six share factors from 2024. It’s the lowest level since 2019.
The FOIA figures increase questions concerning the BBC’s repeated assertion that it has “zero tolerance” for sexual harassment and bullying. BBC director basic Tim Davie and chair Samir Shah stated in proof to lawmakers final month that staff ought to be ousted in the event that they cross skilled boundaries. Davie stated nobody is “indispensable,” whereas Shah argued that if highly effective figures “misbehave,” they need to be “out.”
BBC director basic Tim Davie (left) and chair Samir Shah (proper)
Parliament TV
The fact is that the BBC applies a extra nuanced method to disciplinary measures. BBC administration’s place is that every one complaints are handled critically, however disciplinary motion varies relying on the circumstances of the case. There are a number of punishments the BBC can implement, together with written warnings, dismissal, and redeployment or demotion. When there isn’t any punishment, the BBC will take different motion, together with further coaching, teaching, and mediation.
The FOIA figures come because the BBC plans to publish a office tradition overview on Monday following a string of scandals concerning the conduct of highly effective males, together with Russell Model and Huw Edwards. Model denies wrongdoing, whereas Edwards pleaded responsible to accessing little one intercourse abuse photos.
The BBC’s final main office tradition overview happened in 2013. Since then, there have been a complete of 41 formal sexual harassment circumstances, a mean of almost 4 a yr. There have been 604 bullying and harassment circumstances, a mean of 55 a yr. The BBC is taking a mean of 83 days to resolve these grievance processes, which is considerably longer than the goal of 30 days set within the 2013 overview.
A BBC spokesperson stated: “We take all types of bullying, harassment and misconduct extremely critically. If a case is upheld, there are a number of potential sanctions obtainable, together with dismissal. These are thought of on a case-by-case foundation, consistent with our insurance policies.
“We would like the BBC to be a spot the place expectations on requirements and behavior are clear; the place folks really feel assured in elevating points or issues in the event that they do happen; and the place swift motion can be taken the place mandatory. That’s the reason we launched the office tradition overview, which can be revealed shortly.”
