CBC Executives humiliated by investigative report

Apr 16, 2015 | News

Jian Ghomeshi is escorted by police out of court past members of the media in Toronto on Wednesday, November 26, 2014.

Jian Ghomeshi is escorted by police out of court past members of the media in Toronto on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 (REUTERS)

By Ainsley Smith

CBC executives were left disappointed and embarrassed by the findings of a report released Thursday from an independent investigator hired to examine CBC’s handling of the allegations against former radio host Jian Ghomeshi.

“We receive this report with humility and in the constructive spirits in which it was intended. The findings of this report are troubling. They are disappointing. They point to lapses in our systems, and concerns about our culture,” CBC President Hubert Lacroix said.

Following the release of the report, CBC executives spoke with reporters via conference call to discuss the overall findings, which included a breakdown and recommendations.

“We have work to do to reinforce our timeless values and to create a strong, safe and respectable workplace” – Lacroix

Toronto employment lawyer Janice Rubin was hired by the CBC last November to look into the allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior that related to Ghomeshi.

Rubin spoke with 99 people over five months while conducting the report, 17 people declined to be interviewed, including Ghomeshi.

In the report the majority of witnesses  described “a pattern of behaviour and conduct” that fell below the CBC’s standards and said they were “deeply disrespectful to employees.” Some behaviours described included yelling, belittling and humiliating others, playing pranks and cruel jokes, and in a “small number of cases,” sexually harassing colleagues.

A number of colleagues also reported receiving back and shoulder massages from Ghomeshi, the report said. “Most of the witnesses did not find these massages sexual (although several did) but instead described them as creepy and disrespectful of their personal boundaries.”

The report also contains allegations that Ghomeshi made colleagues uncomfortable by speaking about his sex life in the workplace.

“There were incidents where Mr. Ghomeshi shared information that witnesses found too personal, too graphic and generally unsavoury,” the report said.

“We’re confident we can, and will, do better” – Conway

During Thursday’s conference call, Lacroix and Heather Conway, executive vice-president of English Services, offered an apology to employees and to Canadians in general.

“On behalf of this organization, I offer a sincere and unqualified apology to our employees and to Canadians who have a right to expect a higher standard from their public broadcaster,” said Lacroix.

He said the situation has been complicated and difficult, and that much work needs to be done in order to rebuild the trust of CBC employees.

Former CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi leaves a Toronto courtroom on Nov. 26 after making his first appearance on seven counts of sexual assault and one of overcoming resistance by choking. (REUTERS)

Former CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi leaves a Toronto courtroom on Nov. 26 (REUTERS)

“We have work to do to reinforce our timeless values and to create a strong, safe and respectable workplace. We owe this to our people. We owe it to  the people of Canada whom we serve. I am confident we can do exactly that,” Lacroix said in the conference call.

The inappropriate behaviors that took place, and the standards of behavior that were not met, are completely contrary to CBC’s mission and mandate, said Conway.

“Where we experienced or tolerated an unsafe or non-respectful workplace, we see that as a failure. We’re confident we can, and will, do better. That’s why we commissioned the Rubin report,” she said.

The Rubin report summary

  • Ghomeshi’s behaviour was contrary to standards put in place by the CBC.
  • Management knew, or ought to have known of his behaviour, yet failed to deal with it in accordance with its own policies.
  • Management failed to adequately respond to information it received from employees about inappropriate behaviour. The report identified three missed opportunities:
    • An allegation made known to management in the summer of 2014 that inappropriate behavior on the part of Ghomeshi may have crossed over into the workplace. While steps were taken in response to this allegation, they were insufficiently probative, too narrow, misdirected and flawed.
    • The “Red Sky Document” from the summer of 2012, when management took steps to address employee complaints about work flow, volume of work and other issues but failed to address complaints of Ghomeshi’s behaviour.
    • There was one final opportunity for the CBC to meaningfully respond to information offered to it by one of its employees. The information was contained in an email that was sent by an employee summer 2014. It should have raised concerns and then led to a further investigation – but it didn’t.
  • A sexual harassment allegation made by an employee in 2010, related to an incident in 2007 never came to the attention of management. “There is no convincing evidence that anything was done to communicate this information to other union officials and upwards to the appropriate CBC manager and human resources,” said Rubin.
  • There is a problem with the CBC’s “culture.” While behavioural standards exist, those who managed Ghomeshi paid insufficient regard to them.
  • Nobody had clear and consistent authority of Ghomeshi on a daily basis. For example, producers, the executive producer and Ghomeshi were all part of the same bargaining unit.
  • Rubin concluded that there are weaknesses in the systems and processes of the CBC that allowed for Ghomeshi’s behavioural breeches.

Rubin Report Recommendations

Moving forward, Rubin and her team made nine recommendations for the CBC.

“CBC is in general agreement with all of the provided recommendations and we have already had some preliminary discussions with the [Canadian Media Guild], our union, which I see as very positive and constructive,” Lacroix said.

Lacroix said some recommendations can be implemented quickly, while others may require more effort.

Nine recommendations were made for the CBC

  1. The CBC needs to review its policies and clarify the protection and expectations for its employees. Also, that these concepts are clearly defined and specific examples of prohibited behaviour are provided.
  2. The CBC should provide mandatory training on revised policies, both at the time of hire and at regular intervals for all existing employees.
  3. Conduct more surveys and “Spot Audits”, which would allow employees to provide information to third party consultants on a confidential basis
  4. Establish a confidential workplace hotline
  5. Refresh workplace investigation competencies and data keeping
  6. Establish a Respect at Work and Human Rights Ombudsperson
  7. Examination of the Role of Executive Producer (EP). Rubin refers to the role of the EP within the CBC and the ability of this person to act, and the accountability of the EP when faced with knowledge of allegations of inappropriate behavior.
  8. Respect at work competencies to be included in every stage of the employment relationship: We ensure that our employees have the core competencies to deal with workplace behaviors and that this skill be a key part of their growth as they move through various employment relationships with us.
  9. Task force with the Canadian Media Guild to address young people in the organization: How to deal with the difficulties that junior employees face with securing reliable work and establishing a career with the CBC.

Train new and old employees

Stacey R. Ball, a Toronto employment lawyer specializing in wrongful dismissal, said he believes that the steps to eliminating sexual harassment in the workplace come from education and training.

“Employers can have occasional seminars on the Human Rights Code and Bill 168 once every year, so there is continued education,” said Ball.

He said it’s important that older employees are advised that societal norms have changed and that employers have an obligation to prevent sexual harassment, sexual assault and violence in the workplace.

“Older employees might not be aware that norms have changed and they cannot act how they could act 15 to 20 years ago. Educating older employees is very important.”

The background events

The CBC fired Ghomeshi, 47, on Oct. 26, 2014 after viewing what it called “graphic evidence” that he caused physical injury to a woman.

He is also under criminal investigation after several women complained to Toronto police he had physically or sexually assaulted them.

He faces seven counts of sexual assault and one of overcoming resistance by choking, but his lawyer has said he will plead not guilty to all charges.

Ghomeshi is free on $100,000 bail with numerous conditions. He is due to return to court April 28.

Two managers let go

 

Around the same time the report was released Thursday, CBC announced that two senior managers, radio executive Chris Boyce and human resources executive Todd Spencer have left the corporation.

Boyce and Spencer conducted interviews with “Q” employees last summer as part of an internal investigation.

The two were put on indefinite leave in January.

When asked about these firings during the conference call, Conway said CBC would not discuss any details of their departure.

“I don’t hold people to a standard of perfection. But I do think that anyone in a senior role has a significant accountability and can be held to account for the responsibilities that come with a position like that,” said Conway.

 

DISCLAIMER: Todd Spencer is a member of the Advisory Board of the Humber College Journalism Program.