‘One of the most soul-crushing places you can work’: ABC Four Corners investigates Seven’s workplace
ABC will be taking aim at Seven’s workplace culture in a new Four Corners set to air next Monday.
Titled ‘Don’t Speak’, a thirty-second trailer released this week by the ABC features former employees, including Amber Harrison – whose affair with former CEO Tim Worner was made public after she was fired from Seven – with the network claiming it was for credit card misuse.
“Silence for life,” she says of the fallout.
“They shouldn’t be in business if that’s what they’re doing to young women,” one commentator says in the trailer. “How do they sleep at night?”
Reporter Louise Milligan and the Four Corners team spoke to more than 200 people for the story, including current staff who “believe there is a desperate need for change at both Seven and the broader commercial television industry”.
ABC’s synopsis reads: “Channel Seven bills itself as a family network, but a Four Corners investigation finds it to be a ‘second chance club’ for senior men, described as a ‘degrading, soul-crushing’ workplace.
“Allegations of sexism, exploitation and extreme bullying at the network are rife and staff have been left hospitalised. In some extreme cases, they are unable to work or been suicidal.
”Many staff have made legal claims against the network and many past staff have been gagged with non-disclosure agreements.”
Mumbrella has contacted Seven for comment.
Don’t Speak airs Monday 12 August at 8:30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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I couldn’t agree more. Having spent over five years in the newsroom, I have witnessed some truly appalling stories. The toxic workplace culture and bullying tactics that were perpetuated from the top created an environment that was deeply troubling. The constant turnover of staff during my tenure highlighted who could endure the toxicity the longest, before being betrayed by colleagues desperate to save their own jobs. It was truly a dog-eat-dog world.
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Funny, I’ve heard the same thing about the ABC.
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As someone who worked in the Ch7 sales team a long time ago I can say without a doubt this was one of the most toxic places I’ve worked. The leadership who is still there today were responsible for bullying, shaming, and inappropriate behaviours that I’ve heard are still happening. These people have continued to be promoted within the business and leadership change needs to happen for there to be any hope of progress… Just look at anyone that’s been there more than 10+ years, they either were part of the problem or aware of it…
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The entire TV industry is heading for / starting a massive reset.
Careers built around lunches and dinner, flogging TARPs on a single terrestrial signal, fighting for share from 2 competitors, can only last so long.
We are starting to see the change – smart, data literate leaders will end up taking these businesses forward, but not before a broom goes through the SLTs.
Next 12 months will be fascinating to see who takes the lead across the networks – grab the popcorn!
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Will be watching for the truth
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