British Broadcasting CorporationThe BBC has announced details of a review of its workplace culture, which will focus on “preventing abuse of power and ensuring everyone at the BBC behaves in a manner consistent with our values”.
The company announced Comment Former top news anchor Huw Edwards has been found guilty of offenses involving child abuse images.
Last month, Edwards Sentenced to six months in prisonHe was suspended for two years after admitting three charges of making indecent images of children.
BBC chairman Samir Shah said in an email to staff that “it has taken longer than I would have liked to get to this stage” but added: “I am fully committed to addressing the inappropriateness or abusive behavior, I cannot stress this enough.
Some BBC staff Edwards They were sent flirtatious and “aggressive” private messages, with one saying he was “treated like a news god” and “made to feel like he could do anything”.
An internal investigation into Edwards’s treatment of employees ended after his resignation, and some employees expressed displeasure that the findings were not made public.
In August, the BBC board said recent events had “shone a spotlight on power imbalances in the workplace”.
They said they were “concerned about the potential for inappropriate behavior in the workplace, particularly in creative and editorial environments”.
‘star status’
previous commentsAn investigation carried out in the aftermath of the Jimmy Savile scandal in 2013 revealed a “strong undercurrent of fear” in the BBC’s handling of bullying.
The report found that some bad behavior appeared to go unchallenged by senior executives and that some people were “treated as ‘pariahs’ because of their value to the BBC”.
The BBC said Change Associates, which is responsible for the review, will now “evaluate the progress made on its recommendations”.
Commenting on the delay in the launch of the review, Mr Shah added that “it is important to follow due process – which sometimes takes time”.
“For most of us, working for the BBC is a joy, and everyone should be. No one who works at the BBC should feel fear or worry about working here,” he said.
He added that he was clear “that we must ensure the BBC is a safe, secure and welcoming place for everyone to work”.
“Speak up with confidence”
Releasing details of the review on Friday, the BBC said all organizations have hierarchies and individuals who “have power and influence over others”.
“Individuals with significant public profiles, leadership roles or celebrity status are also at risk of abuse of power,” the company added.
“At the BBC we have a responsibility to ensure we have the right culture, not only to enable people to do their best work – without abuse – but also to ensure that the same values, expectations and standards apply, no matter who is involved.”
The review will set out “practical steps to prevent abuse of power and further strengthen our workplace culture”, its terms of reference indicate.
It will recommend steps to “ensure everyone understands the consequences of misconduct and abuse of power” and that any significant complaints are dealt with quickly.
It will also look at how to “ensure people have the confidence to speak up and managers and leaders take decisive action”.
The review will be conducted by Grahame Russell, executive chairman of management consultancy Change Associates, and is expected to be completed next year.
