VICE Media announced Thursday that it has fired three employees amid independent investigations into claims of sexual harassment and improper workplace conduct.
In a memo published on the VICE website Thursday, Global Chief Human Resources Officer Susan Tohyama provides an update on the results of her probe into a “handful of workplace complaints,” including the firing of three employees. The memo also lays out some of the changes taking place in the company, including the formation of the new Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board, “achieving pay parity by 2018,” and “implementing sensitivity training.”
The memo opens by acknowledging that “as our company has evolved” since it was founded 23 years ago, “our workplace culture has fallen short. We acknowledge this, which is why we have committed ourselves to making the changes necessary to create an inclusive workplace where all our employees can flourish, while being safe and respected.”
Among those changes are “achieving pay parity by 2018, hiring a new global Head of HR (Susan Tohyama), tightening standards and practices, updating reporting processes for any inappropriate behavior, restructuring and diversifying the company’s board of directors, implementing sensitivity training in the workplace, and forming an advisory board to work with management and employees to evaluate company culture and make any necessary changes.”
Toyhama, who was brought in four weeks ago apparently to clean house, then provides some updates on her team’s “thorough investigations” into the “handful of workplace complaints” that resulted in the firing of three employees.
“Today we took disciplinary action, including terminating three employees,” writes Toyhama. “The conduct of these employees ranged from verbal and sexual harassment to other behavior that is inconsistent with our policies, our values, and the way in which we believe colleagues should work together.”
Citing the need to protect the “confidentiality of the process” and “those who wish to bring allegations to me and to create a fair, safe and inclusive environment for all employees,” Toyhama says she will not offer more details about the complaints, but does offer some explanation of how she will handle investigations and the company’s “zero tolerance” policy going forward.
She closes by urging those who have experienced any “inappropriate conduct” to come forward to help ensure that the company is “an inclusive, fair, safe, creative and fun place to be.”