Drama after head of leading media website accused of sexual harassment – ​​channelnews

The publisher of Mediaweek is accused of sexually harassing staff. When a human resources firm indicated that its report would conclude that there was most likely a case that needed to be investigated, it bought in another firm whose insiders were concerned about management’s actions on the matter and the current situation at the publisher.

Trent Thomas, Australia’s largest marketing and media publication, declined to comment, according to a report in the Financial Review, and instead hired a second human resources consultant to conduct a new investigation, which concluded it was more likely that he bullied and sexually harassed a member of his team.

Thomas has not commented on whether he will exit the business or how much revenue he might lose following the AFR revelation.

AFR journalists say they spoke to several people close to Mediaweek on strict condition of anonymity about Mr Thomas’s alleged inappropriate conduct at the publication he owns and runs.

They said two people had filed formal complaints about the 31-year-old’s conduct.

There were apparently allegations related to the use of sexually explicit content, the creation of a hostile work environment and the publication of very personal information about some employees in front of others.

Thomas declined to answer a series of questions about the allegations, the investigation and his role as head of Mediaweek broadcast Friday morning and Sunday.

The drama has been unfolding for several weeks.

After the allegations became public, Thomas hired an outside employee from TLC’s human resources department to begin an investigation into Mr. Thomas’s conduct. After confidentially interviewing employees and investigating specific incidents of alleged misconduct and reaching a conclusion, Thomas apparently received certain information about the course of the investigation and responded by dismissing him from the company.

He then hired human resources firm JAR Consultants to conduct a second formal investigation.

After two weeks, they concluded that some of the allegations were almost certainly “founded,” according to insiders who spoke to the AFR.

They concluded that it was “more likely than not” that (employees were sexually harassed).

Complaints about alleged misconduct at Mediaweek follow coverage of similar incidents at the Nine Network, where Stan’s former PR chief Adrian Foo left the company following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate workplace conduct.

They also published in-depth stories about Darren Wicks, the former Nine Network news director who was fired following a sexual harassment investigation.

To put an end to the rumors circulating among Mediaweek staff, Andrew Mulready emailed the entire team in April to say that the “investigation is still pending” and “no decision has been made.”

The next day, Mr Mulready forwarded a second email to staff – saying he had been “asked” to forward it – detailing why the investigation was “flawed”.

The reasons included that the firm made typos in its correspondence, was a “key witness,” had a conflict of interest, and did not properly state the allegations.

On May 13, the second staffing firm introduced a new personnel handbook, according to internal emails obtained by Mediaweek.

The handbook includes new policies on bullying and harassment, complaints handling, general conduct, probation and performance management, flexible working and drug and alcohol use.

“All employees and managers will also attend training to familiarize them with these new resources and expectations,” employees were told in an email.

The company charges $35,000 from major sponsors of its events and $15,000 from smaller sponsors, with brands costing $20,000 to take over its website. It has not commented, however, on how much business it could lose as a result of the allegations.

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