An investigation has been launched into allegations of bullying and a culture of fear at the Welsh-language television channel S4C.
A law firm has been brought in by the board of the publicly funded channel, which last year celebrated its 40th year of broadcasting, to lead an independent investigation.
The union Bectu, which represents workers in the creative industries, has been supporting staff who have been complaining for several months about an allegedly unhealthy work environment.
Union officials met S4C managers but did not receive the reassurances they felt they needed so wrote to the channel’s unitary board calling for an independent investigation.
The letter, from the union’s negotiations officer in Wales, Carwyn Donovan, described a “bullying and a toxic culture” and a “culture of fear” at S4C, which is based in Carmarthen in south-west Wales and Caernarfon in north Wales.
Donovan wrote that “staff were regularly being brought to tears” and some were “too scared to share their experiences”. He said four staff members broke down in tears when giving their accounts.
The letter said staff claimed they were “being ignored, belittled, undermined, or patronised by members of the management team” and at times faced aggressive and confrontational behaviour from managers. The letter claimed one manager had said in a meeting that the term bullying was “thrown about too easily”.
The claims come at a time when S4C is on a high. It was delighted when Netflix picked up the Welsh language-only thriller Dal y Mellt (Catch the Lightning), which it commissioned with its chief executive, Siân Doyl, telling the Guardian it demonstrated that Welsh-language shows could stand on the world stage.
Currently showing on the BBC iPlayer and receiving strong reviews is a film called Y Sŵn, which means “the Noise”, and tells the story of the fight for S4C’s creation.
S4C offers a wide range of programmes including news, drama, documentaries, music, entertainment and children programmes. Independent production companies produce most of the programmes and the BBC contributes about 520 hours a year.
Welcoming the setting up of the investigation, Donovan said: “Bectu is reassured by the prompt and unequivocal response we have received from the S4C unitary board regarding our members’ complaints. We are pleased they have agreed to appoint an independent investigator, whom we look forward to working with.
“Everyone has the right to respect and dignity in their workplace and we are pleased that the board recognises S4C’s responsibility to lead the way on these principles. This is essential given the broadcaster’s important role in Welsh life and reflecting our culture and values to the world.
“As a union we are committed to stamping out bullying and harassment wherever it occurs and we are here to support our members at this challenging time.”
The Welsh Conservative shadow minister for culture, tourism and sport, Tom Giffard, said: “These allegations are deeply concerning, especially the wider impact on the reputation of our Welsh language broadcaster.”
Rhodri Williams, the chairman of the S4C board, said it had asked a firm of lawyers to begin a listening exercise for staff and to come back with conclusions and any recommendations.
He said: “We don’t know how many people want to talk to them or what they want to tell them but it creates a safe space for staff to express their concerns knowing it doesn’t get back to management.”
Williams said he did not know how many people had made complaints or the specifics. He added: “Bectu have described some of the meetings they’ve had with staff as being well attended. They haven’t gone down the route of listing individual complaints. Bectu told us that was because people were too scared to speak up.”
