Harassment allegations also at Radiotelevisione svizzera
Following allegations of harassment at Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) in western Switzerland, incidents have also come to light at Radiotelevisione svizzera (RSI) in Ticino. So far, 30 complaints have been received by the Ticino secretariat of the SSM media union.
Jerome Hayoz, central secretary of the Swiss syndicate of medium-creative SSM, and the section Lugano confirmed thereby on Monday opposite the news agency Keystone SDA reports of the Tribune de Genève and from 24heures of Saturday. These had written of bullying and harassment incidents at RSI.
As Rolando Lepori of the SSM secretariat Ticino in Lugano said on request, half of the 30 complaints were bullying, the other half harassment, including sexual harassment and violation of personality.
RSI's media office said on request that the management was "determined to do everything in its power to offer employees the greatest possible protection against any form of abuse. Various channels are available for reporting any abuse, including anonymous reporting. RSI will coordinate further action with the SSM Ticino section.
The SRG is also aware of the reports received, as the media office stated on request. The SRG is in exchange with the social partners. The cases reported to the SSM would be examined and communicated after clarification.
Regarding the German-language corporate unit SRF, the SSM said it was working with SRF to define the process for dealing with any reports of harassment. Discussions are underway.
External examinations
Two outside agencies are currently investigating the recently disclosed harassment allegations at RTS (Werbewoche.ch reported). SRG's internal audit department also reviews, with external support, the tools in place to protect the personal integrity of employees.
The entire Board of Directors and he himself are committed to a complete, independent investigation of the cases at RTS as well as the responsibilities and the suitability of the existing instruments for the protection of personal integrity, SRG Board of Directors Chairman Jean-Michel Cina was quoted as saying in the press release.
Unwanted kisses and abuse of power
In a research of the daily newspaper of western Switzerland Le Temps there had been talk of open harassment, unwanted kisses, lewd comments and systematic abuse of power. Three employees were accused, including Darius Rochebin, longtime presenter of the RTS daily news. The management and human resources managers of RTS had consistently looked the other way.
Meanwhile, Rochebin, who has been hosting a talk show with famous personalities on the French news channel LCI since the fall, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Le Temps submitted.
The commissioned bodies and persons will each draw up a report for the attention of the SRG Board of Directors. Social partners, SRF employees and the public are expected to be informed about this in February 2021.
The RTS management and the SRG Board of Directors responded to the allegations in early November by announcing that the two executives had been temporarily suspended and two independent investigations had been launched. The presumption of innocence applies. (SDA)
