Karl Stefanovic calls a company meeting to discuss ‘toxic culture’ at Channel Nine amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour: ‘Men need to do better’

Karl Stefanovic has called a company-wide meeting to discuss cultural issues at Channel Nine, reports claim. 

Last month, Nine boss Mike Sneesby sent an email to all employees urging staff with complaints of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ at the network to come forward, following the sudden exit of Nine’s director of news and current affairs Darren Wick. 

According to the The Australian, Stefanovic, 49, on Friday assembled network staff including fellow Today stars Sarah Abo, Sylvia Jeffreys and David Campbell to discuss the ‘toxic culture’. 

The ‘solemn’ meeting was reportedly convened by Nine’s director of morning television, Steven Burling, and attended by staff across the country both in person and online. 

Stefanovic told colleagues ‘men need to do better’ at Nine during a powerful address while he praised the network’s female employees, describing them as the ‘heart and soul’ of the media company, the report claims.  

Stefanovic also reportedly invited Sneesby to the meeting, who gave a speech about how he understood why some female employees ‘felt they could not speak up’. 

Prior to the meeting, Burling also reportedly sent out a letter to news staff saying the get-together was a chance to ‘reset and reinforce positive ways’. 

Sneesby wrote in his email to staff on May 22 that ‘it is important for everyone at Nine to know that we don’t tolerate inappropriate behaviour in the workplace and want to know if there is inappropriate behaviour occurring, so that it can be addressed promptly.

Sneesby then assured employees that making a complaint about such conduct would not be damaging to their careers.

‘If you feel that you have been victimised because you have made a complaint about an issue, you should raise that with the senior leaders of our business or with People and Culture,’ he wrote.

Last month, Nine boss Mike Sneesby (pictured) sent an email to all employees urging staff with complaints of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ at the network to come forward, following the sudden exit of Nine’s director of news and current affairs Darren Wick 

‘Our guidelines on conduct in the workplace and how we manage complaints about workplace issues are on our intranet.

‘I encourage you to raise any concerns you may have about behaviour in the workplace, to ensure Nine is a safe and supportive place for all of us to work in.

‘We have all been involved in developing our purpose and values which need to guide the way we turn up each day.’

A Nine spokesman said the network would not be commenting on the timing of Sneesby’s email, the reasons for Wick’s departure, or the nature of any allegations about inappropriate behaviour. 

Wick (pictured) announced his resignation in a statement on March 15, ending weeks of speculation about his future during which Nine insisted he was just taking an extended summer break 

Sneesby’s email referred to recent media attention on Nine’s ‘internal processes and policies regarding complaints about conduct in the workplace’ following Wick’s exit but did not mention him by name. 

Wick announced his resignation in a statement on March 15, ending weeks of speculation about his future during which Nine insisted he was just taking an extended summer break.

Nine has since appointed respected journalist Fiona Dear as its director of news and current affairs. 

Nine has since appointed  Fiona Dear (pictured) as its director of news and current affairs