A "large number" of current and former ITV employees have raised claims of "toxic working cultures, bullying, discrimination and harassment", according to an MP.
'Large number' of ITV employees raise 'toxic working culture' claims, says MP
ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall faced questions from a committee of MPs in June, following Phillip Schofield's exit from 'This Morning', amid allegations of a "toxic" culture at the brunchtime show.
And now, Dame Caroline Dinenage, chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, has told the ITV boss of several claims made by "individuals who have identified themselves as currently working or previously having worked on 'This Morning' or as part of the wider ITV Daytime team".
In the letter dated 24 July, which was published on Wednesday (09.08.23), Dame Caroline wrote: "In the month that has passed since your appearance before the committee, we have been contacted by a large number of individuals who have identified themselves as currently working or previously having worked on This Morning or as part of the wider ITV Daytime team.
"These individuals speak with great pride about working at ITV and are hugely positive about many of their colleagues.
"However, they also raise claims of toxic working cultures, bullying, discrimination and harassment.
"Some of those individuals who have contacted us have described how their decision to raise concerns within ITV has led to further bullying and discrimination, and in some cases having to leave the organisation with a settlement agreement."
Caroline also suggested it was "easy to understand" why some individuals may have left ITV, and they "do not wish to relive their traumatic experiences".
Carolyn responding by asking the committee to "encourage individuals to contact ITV via our reporting line SafeCall" if they have complaints.
Phillip quit 'This Morning' and ITV earlier this year after admitting to an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger former colleague.
In June, Carolyn addressed allegations of a "toxic" culture at 'This Morning', insisting: "We don't recognise that."
She appeared at a government committee on June 14th alongside managing director Kevin Lygo and general counsel Kyla Mullins to give evidence to MPs, following Phillip's departure from ITV.
Amid Phillip's departure, some stars claimed there was a "toxic" culture at ITV, but Carolyn insisted there have only been two complaints of such an "issue" in five years, and both were "taken very seriously".
When asked what she made of allegations of there being a "toxic culture at 'This Morning'", Carolyn told the government committee: "What I would say is that it’s not something that we take that seriously.
"What I know is that when we talk about culture it’s incredibly important to me, personally and so it deeply disappoints me, right?
"But we do not recognise that in 'This Morning' and the reason for that is that we have tangible evidence to tell you that the vast majority of people at daytime and at 'This Morning' are extremely engaged and very motivated.
"That’s not to say we don’t take complaints about it seriously. We’ve had two complaints in five years about that issue. Both of them taken very seriously."
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