Nine Entertainment’s poor workplace culture is marked by systemic abuse including bullying, discrimination, harassment and sexual harassment, according to an independent inquiry.
The findings of the review, via consultancy Intersection appointed by the company, show half of Nine employees experienced abuse of power.
The company has a lack of leadership accountability and significant distrust in leaders at all levels of the business, according to the review.
It is a media company where “bullies thrive and are rewarded” and the "cool kid" reign, staff told the inquiry
Nine launched the inquiry of its newsroom culture following allegations of abuse of power and “drunken, lecherous behaviour”.
The review recommends the board of directors issue a statement to all current and former Nine employees acknowledging the harm caused and commitment to cultural change.
One employee: “Every day I would wake up with this knot in my stomach thinking am I going to be screamed at, white-anted or publicly humiliated today, or is it someone else’s turn?
“Watching the humiliation happening to others was almost as bad as being the target, but at the same time you were grateful it wasn’t you that day.”
Another reported: “The anxiety I experienced before [each workday] was debilitating. He would humiliate me in front of everyone else on the team.
“I have endured thousands of microaggressions over time. It is death by a thousand cuts. …There was a point when I wanted to kill myself.
The review was a comprehensive examination of workplace culture in the Television News and Current Affairs (Broadcast) Division.
And a workforce-wide survey also gave benchmark data on the prevalence of inappropriate workplace behaviours and other cultural indicators of Nine organisation-wide.
The review found very high prevalence abuse of power or authority (62%) in the Broadcast Division.
“Known perpetrators of inappropriate workplace behaviours have not been dealt with; rather employees have been warned about interactions with certain individuals, or told to avoid contact with them,” the review said.
“In other instances, leaders have attempted to ‘cover up’ inappropriate workplace behaviours, or to discourage the reporting of incidents.”
One employee: “There have been huge changes for the better in the last 2 years, with changes of management in my department, these are all good, and a huge improvement. It’s with these changes you realise how toxic our department was, and how we put up with it, as that was how it was ... we were used to it ... Nine is making some great changes, I definitely feel more respected in the workplace.
“I often think to myself, Nine really doesn't deserve to have all these talented people working here. They just don't deserve it. But as colleagues we are each other’s support network. The people are the best.”
More direct quotes from staff at Nine:
“There is no point reporting issues – as the management is not interested – people, especially hard workers, are not recognised – bullies thrive and are rewarded.”
"We used to talk about being bullied, harassed or publicly humiliated like you’d talk about the weather. Now when I look back it horrifies me how normalised it had become."
“This place is run like a boys’ club, and I say that as a male. The ‘cool kids’ (those in charge) are woefully under qualified at best. Decisions are made daily based on personal preference of friends/favours instead of to benefit the business/show/ other employees. An absolute joke of a management structure and I’m shocked it’s taken this long to be looked into.”
“When I left Nine I was a shell. I was broken. I had no confidence. I was worried about my income. It was a really horrible time.”
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