Holding ourselves to account: Owning up to the events of the Mumbrella Christmas party
In his first piece for Mumbrella, Diversified Communications (parent company of Mumbrella) managing director David Longman shares the details of an unfortunate incident that occurred late last year.
A little over four years ago, Diversified Communications acquired Mumbrella. Since then, I haven’t contributed to the content of Mumbrella, leaving that to those who do it best. But after a serious incident following the Sydney Christmas party last year, which included Mumbrella staff, I felt it necessary to get on the front foot and share what happened, including the ramifications.
I’m doing this because Mumbrella has a long history of holding the media and marketing industry to account. It has questioned the actions of individuals and businesses that have seemingly not acted in the best interests of staff, clients and the industry in general. Mumbrella is a strong supporter of diversity, culture and a safe working environment, and is not shy in pushing the industry to be better.
But we’re not perfect ourselves, and this piece is written because I feel it’s important to take ownership of when poor decisions are made. And much like when we call things out in the industry in order to agitate for change, we must be willing to make changes when we realise that our actions are the ones being called into question.
On 9 December 2021, Diversified Communications’ Sydney team had its Christmas party in North Sydney. After the party, a small group of Mumbrella staff went back to the Walker St office to continue in an unofficial capacity.
During this time, illicit drugs were purchased, distributed and consumed by a number of the staff there. The staff ranged from junior to more senior staff.
The incident was reported by Mumbrella members early the next week, with a full and thorough investigation by Diversified Communications’ HR team taking place swiftly.
It is not enough to simply investigate. Action must be taken, and that action must result in long-term benefits for the business and its staff.
Unfortunately, as a result of the investigation, two Mumbrella staff have resigned and a number of others have been warned. Furthermore, staff involved will be undertaking a drug awareness and education program which I believe will provide long-term benefits. We will, of course, provide ongoing support to those that need it.
I want to make it clear that Diversified Communications does not condone this type of behaviour as it goes against the company values and code of conduct.
Mumbrella’s editorial team writes about the good and bad of the industry, including issues with substance abuse. Even when it is uncomfortable, Mumbrella and Diversified Communications must hold itself to the same standards it asks of the rest of the industry.
We have chosen to disclose the incident as it is important that we are transparent with our audience about what has occurred, it would be easier for those involved to have kept it behind closed doors, however as Mumbrella has done throughout its time, we have owned our mistakes. It’s this transparency which has allowed Mumbrella to build the trust and reputation it has in the industry.
Mumbrella strives to tell it like it is, and that includes being honest about ourselves and holding ourselves to the same standard we expect of the industry.
The two people who have left were two valued people who were both good at their jobs and had contributed to the success of Mumbrella. I hope they can replicate those successes in their future and I hope all involved can learn from the situation we faced.
I also want to make it clear for any sceptics, that this is not a cost-cutting exercise either, Mumbrella will be filling both roles as soon as possible.
And finally, I also want to clarify that the announcement last week that Mumbrella’s head of content, Damian Francis, would be leaving the business was in no way related to this incident but was completely separate. Diversified Communications, Mumbrella and Damian part ways on very good terms. He continues with us this week in a consulting capacity.
This has been an uncomfortable piece for me to write and I hope not to grace the digital pages of Mumbrella often in the future, instead continuing to leave it to the professionals that you come to the site and open the newsletter for.
David Longman is the managing director of Diversified Communications Australia, parent company of Mumbrella.
Appreciate the honesty, transparency and accountability, better than this coming out from an outside source
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Drugs!? At a MEDIA Christmas party!?
I’d never thought I’d see the day.
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Lovely transparency, but (without knowing the details) would have preferred a more understanding approach – more of a do what you will in your own time and more of a we have taken this opportunity to remind our staff know that their health is important to us and we will provide real support for any employee who feels that their drug and/or alcohol use is giving them grief.
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I don’t know why this is set up as ‘a piece’ when it’s an organisational statement admitting a wrong-doing that no one cares about. Too much patting on the back or acting like this is a brave, noble step. It’s completely unnecessary to go public with such an insignificant event that hasn’t caused harm to anybody. This is a weird step, interesting that this decision was agreed upon – I imagine there would’ve been a fair bit of resistance from people internally and I would say those people were in the right.
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Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. So many literary genii quick to criticise the journalistic approach to this ‘statement’.
If it was a publicly listed company, or a Government body and drugs were consumed in a corporate or company facility, and this was discovered internally, it would surely be managed and ousted in the same fashion?
Back in your box hypocrites! Well said Mumbrella.
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Hopefully this might just be the start of a movement to have an industry with a cleaner nose!
Good on ya for coming clean!
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Was this actually written for human beings? I tip my hat at the bravery to write this. Obviously the writer knows it was condescending, cringe-lame, and unrealistic, yet he forged on, appeasing the non-existing corporate gods for the HR record, with no iota of actual information or scene-setting. People lost jobs over this?? Why? You’ve told us nothing, and pray that we’ll swallow your band-aid. Embarrassing. Brave.
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Have you given any consideration to the mental health impact on the individuals in question before you threw them under the bus publicly… it’s not hard to work out as Tim Burrowes stated to work out who they were? Did you consider perhaps giving them some support in regards to their drug usage, or did you immediately just presume that the only ones that need support are those you’ve decided were less responsible?
Drugs are everywhere in this industry, it’s hard to get through a Friday lunch without someone either whipping out a bag or suggesting getting one. Rather than position this piece as a pat on the back how about we instead consider a discussion around why it’s so common and accepted in this industry and what we can all do to change this perception of normality beyond forcing people to resign from their jobs.
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Who cares? It’s ridiculous that this is an “issue” in this day and age.
Perhaps not using work facilities and going back to someone else’s house might have been more appropriate but this is ridiculous.
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You are to be congratulated, excellent piece
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Well said.
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