Independent review into NZME's workplace culture reveals issues
NZME has outlined a series of changes to how its human resources team handles staff conduct and complaints after an independent workplace review found the media company has "more work to do" to ensure employees feel safe and supported.
The eight-week review, conducted by employment lawyer Andrew Scott-Howman, examined events leading up to the departures late last year of three senior managers from NZME's OneRoof and ZM divisions and identified further issues elsewhere in the business, The New Zealand Herald reported.
In a summary sent to staff, NZME chair Steven Joyce and chief executive Michael Boggs said the board would "maintain direct oversight" of any cases involving executive leaders.
"For concerns about those in management roles, a mixed group of the executive team will be involved in the review, decision-making and response to such allegations," the message read.
Action plan involving HR
Central to the action plan is a stronger role for the company's HR team in documenting, tracking and responding to concerns, according to The New Zealand Herald.
The summary said HR would now record "conduct-related conversations and concerns, even if a formal complaint is not made. This creates a clear record, will help identify areas of concern over time and ensure any identified issues are dealt with early and consistently."
Members of the HR team are also to be more visible and engaged across the business.
Reporting channels for complaints will be made clearly accessible, and HR personnel will be "visibly embedded within the business" through more frequent and proactive check-ins with individual business units, The New Zealand Herald reported.
Joyce and Boggs told staff that managers at all levels would receive additional training on how to handle concerns and complaints, including how to document issues properly.
"Michael and the executive will also reinforce a zero-tolerance approach to retaliation," the summary added.
"If you raise a concern in good faith and experience even the suggestion of negative treatment as a result, they want to know, and will act immediately. You will not be penalised in any way for reporting inappropriate conduct."
Where required to protect health and safety in the workplace, the executive team will suspend any worker under investigation for serious misconduct while inquiries are carried out.
'Strengthened' company practices needed
The review found NZME had systems in place for reporting inappropriate conduct but that, for various reasons, these processes "were not accessed for some time at either OneRoof or ZM."
"The report found that in order to encourage people to report inappropriate conduct in the future, a number of company practices will need to be strengthened," the summary read.
Two additional issues identified elsewhere in the company have been referred to Boggs and the senior leadership team, with those matters to be addressed in the coming weeks, subject to privacy and fairness considerations, The New Zealand Herald reported.
Joyce and Boggs told staff that the organisation must do more to "promote and maintain a supportive work environment in which employees and other persons are treated with respect and dignity."
They said every complaint about inappropriate behaviour "either directed at you or witnessed by you will always be taken seriously and assessed promptly."
"Where an investigation is required, it will be carried out fairly and thoroughly, with appropriate action taken based on the findings. The company will also check in regularly with complainants and provide appropriate support to them," they said.
The board will oversee delivery of the action plan and receive regular updates on progress, while staff will be informed of key changes through internal communications channels.
Joyce and Boggs said the company "wants to earn your confidence by ensuring any allegations raised are treated seriously and handled appropriately."
The review followed the exits of three senior figures from NZME late last year, including OneRoof boss Greg Hornblow, OneRoof head of sales Nicholas Hammond, and ZM content director Ross Flahive, in unrelated circumstances, according to The New Zealand Herald.
Hornblow, an NZME executive, was later sentenced to 10 months' home detention after admitting receiving commercial sex services from an underage 14-year-old girl, the Herald reported.
