Combating Bullying and Harassment

Bullying and harassment are unacceptable behaviours that affect far too many workers in our sector, 56% of workers in the film and television sector reported being bullied at work, twice the rate of the general workforce. In advertising, 26% of the workforce have been sexually harassed, 72% of whom have been harassed more than once. In the music industry a Musicians’ Union survey reported that 48% of musicians have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work and that 85% of victims did not report it. Women, young workers, freelancers, and people working extended hours are particularly vulnerable. We have a duty of care to act.

Over the past six months we have been working with the DCMS to convene a series of industry roundtables with representatives from film and television, music, advertising, games, theatre, and fashion along with key unions, ACAS, and those with lived experience.

Abuses often come from senior industry figures who are in powerful positions and well connected; victims can be afraid to speak out and can be shunned by the industry if they raise concerns. There is a need to rebuild trust in the industry, to provide avenues for reporting and to take action when incidents are reported.

We are convening industry to come together in response to three key outcomes:

• Prevent – bullying and harassment issues from arising through codes of conduct and training that is joined up and clearly visible to those working in the creative industries.
• Protect – those who have faced bullying or harassment by ensuring they are able to easily access independent advice and support.
• Monitor – industry to assess the long-term impact of initiatives to tackle bullying and harassment to ensure effectiveness of support.

There is already a lot of good work happening across the industry with initiatives like Time’s Up UK, timeTo in advertising, the BFI’s set of principles, Theatre Helpline and Safe Space in the music industry. However, there are gaps in support, particularly for freelancers, that we are keen to address.

Join us to learn more about our work, find out how you can get involved, and share your opinions on our suggested actions on Thursday 13^th January 9.30-10.30, register here.