What can we learn from Sony

It shouldn’t have taken decades of alleged trauma and a Four Corners investigation to recognize there were workplace culture problems at Sony Music Australia.

We often think that the only way to identify a culture that condones or creates sexual misconduct and bullying is through staff reports or complaints of that specific behavior. But workplaces with toxic or dangerous cultures generally have very low rates of reporting because staff either don’t know their rights, don’t know how to report or don’t trust the organization enough to feel safe to report. No complaints should be a treated as a warning sign rather than a get out of jail free card.

It may seem counter-intuitive that by contrast, organizations where the culture is more inclusive and supportive will often have much higher rates of reported misconduct. This is because staff trust their employer and its processes. This is a good thing.

“Everyone has dirty laundry, and it doesn’t get any cleaner by

pretending it’s not there or hiding it further under the bed”

Former employees claim they reported misconduct at Sony Music Australia, but even without these complaints, the signs should have been obvious. Some issues to look out for are high staff turnover, especially amongst female staff, and young female or LGBTIQA+ staff in particular, is a significant indicator of an unsafe workplace. One leaving is personal, two may be ambitious, three may indicate a positive launching pad, but multiple, ongoing resignations is a sign of trouble.  

Organizations who proactively assess their culture and provide professional development and training to their management and staff in areas of sexual misconduct, diversity, discrimination, and workplace bullying are usually those that need it the least. The unseen and immeasurable win is that staff are happy, safe, and free to fulfil their potential. According to a 2020 report by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission these workplaces are more likely to attract and retain higher quality staff and these staff are more productive, their clients and customers are more satisfied and feel safer and more respected and the benefits flow throughout the community footprint of the workplace.

“We can help you, but you have to let us.”

At Fearless Fox Training we deal daily with positive and proactive organizations and we love it! Our challenge is to reach the others. We don’t judge those that find themselves with workplace culture issues: we know the challenges they face and the public humiliation they fear. We can help you, but you have to let us. You have to take the first step, voluntarily, toward positive culture change.

I always go back to a lesson my grandmother passed to me before she died. Riddled with dementia, she told me the family secrets…ALL OF THEM! In her own roundabout way her message to me was clear: everyone has dirty laundry, and it doesn’t get any cleaner by pretending it’s not there or hiding it further under the bed. Bring it into the light and let it be cleaned. That’s the only way things will get better.

By Isabel Fox