BBC bosses have received more than 200 complaints of racism, bullying and sexual harassment cases in the last four years
BBC bosses have received more than 200 complaints of racism, bullying and sexual harassment cases in the last four years — but fired just six people.
The dossier of 226 internal complaints at the corporation includes staff who felt victimised because of their age, disability, race or religion.
Others claimed they had been sexually harassed by colleagues.
Other cases were brought by BBC staff who say they were picked on because of their gender, sexual orientation or because they were pregnant.
But documents released under the Freedom of Information Act revealed in 171 cases the complaints of the alleged victims were rejected and the internal disciplinary case was thrown out.
Since 2017 there have been a total of five written warnings to staff for sexually harassing colleagues and 15 to employees considered to have bullied their workmates.
The data also showed that a catalogue of alleged wrong-doing at the corporation was reported by whistleblowing staff.
These whistleblowers highlighted eight cases of financial misconduct, seven incidents of breaching BBC rules, one of bullying and one relating to sexual harassment.
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The findings come as earlier this month it emerged BBC presenters and senior editors are being required to take “Respect at Work” training, as the corporation cracks down on bullying and harassment.
The BBC has a history of highly publicised scandals after reports emerged of abuse children suffered at the hands of top BBC employees.
Former radio DJ and TV personality Jimmy Savile, who presented Top of the Pops and Jim’ll Fix It, abused hundreds of children while working at the BBC.
Australian-born entertainer Rolf Harris, who presented TV show Animal Hospital on the BBC, was convicted in 2014 of sexual assault of four underage girls.
Sports presenter Stuart Hall was found to have assaulted 21 victims at the BBC, the youngest aged just ten, between 1967 and 1991.
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Ben Willmott, head of public policy at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said: “Preventing and managing discrimination, bullying and harassment requires clear policies on respect at work and zero tolerance of any incidents where they occur.
“This requires managers to role model the right behaviours themselves and have the competence and confidence to take action promptly if any issues arise.
“There also needs to be well-communicated and consistently applied disciplinary and grievance procedures in place so people know that if they make a complaint, it will be investigated, and appropriate action taken.”
A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC has a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and harassment.
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“All complaints are treated with the utmost seriousness and are investigated thoroughly.
“If a complaint is upheld appropriate disciplinary action is taken, which can include dismissal.”
