EXCLUSIVE: CBS Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves will find himself held accountable to a “zero tolerance” policy towards sexual harassment that Moonves himself called for in a company-wide email sent to all employees last year.
Deadline got hold of the sexual harassment policy sent in a March 9, 2017 email. CBS strength comes from the caliber of employees it attracts, Moonves noted. The company is committed to providing every employee with a professional work environment thats free of discrimination and harassment, he wrote.
“Simply put,” Moonves wrote, “CBS has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination or sexual harassment in our company or related businesses. At every level of the organization, we are all responsible for treating each other in a fair, objective manner and for supporting the Companys Affirmative Action and EEO policies and practices. And I hold all our managers accountable in this regard.”
Moonves own conduct will now be measured against that standard.
The companys board of directors voted today to retain an outside counsel to conduct an independent investigation of sexual misconduct allegations raised in a New Yorker </a>magazine expose by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Ronan Farrow.
Moonves will remain on the job, while the third-party conducts its probe.
Six women have accused the powerful television executive of unwanted sexual overtures that span decades, saying they suffered professionally after rebuffing his advances. Actress and writer Illeana Douglas told The New Yorker she was fired from a series and told that she would never work at the network again.
CBS policy spells out the range of subtle and not-so-subtle behaviors that constitute sexual harassment, including “unwanted sexual advances” and “touching.” It prohibits such conduct “in the workplace and in any work-related setting outside the workplace” including business related-social events.
The policy prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports discrimination and harassment, calling that a “serious violation” of the policy which, like harassment itself, is “subject to disciplinary action.”
“CBS strongly urges the reporting of all incidents of discrimination, harassment or retaliation, regardless of the offenders identity or position,” the policy notes.
The policy calls for a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation of any reported allegation, and outlines a range of responses to misconduct, from a warning or reprimand to termination.
“Together, we create great content, attract quality audiences and maintain a forward-thinking, collaborative work environment,” Moonves wrote. “Without your loyalty and hard work, our Company simply cannot be the leader in media that it is … A diverse and healthy workforce is crucial to our success.”
Moonves said CBS is committed to providing all the tools employees need to succeed.
“We want every employee to enjoy recognition for great work, be in a positive work setting and have tolerance and respect for the backgrounds, experiences and perspectives of their co-workers,” Moonves wrote. “We believe it all starts with the basics: ensuring equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment.”
Moonves email was distributed company-wide months before The Washington Post published a story in which eight women accused former CBS This Morning co-host Charlie Rose of interactions with the journalist, ranging from groping to lewd comments to walking around naked in front of employees.
Rose was suspended by the netwrk, immediately and subsequently fired.
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