2023-04-21 17:21:55
A number of major companies, including John Lewis, have withdrawn from the Confederation of British Industries (CBI) following a second allegation of rape emerged in the trade lobby group.
The Guardian reported that a woman who was working in a Confederation of British Industry overseas office was sexually assaulted by two male colleagues.
The Confederation of British Industry said the latest allegations were “abhorrent”, noting that it was not aware of the allegations before.
John Lewis and Virgin Media joined the list of companies that withdrew from the Confederation of British Industry.
Earlier on Friday, insurers Aviva, Zurich and Phoenix Group announced that they had terminated their membership in the commercial lobbying giant with immediate effect. The Association of British Insurers also said it would withdraw from the group.
The Confederation of British Industry was already facing one allegation of rape before the new allegation emerged. Both allegations of serious sexual assault are being investigated by the City of London Police.
John Lewis said it had taken the decision to withdraw from CBI membership “due to other very serious and persistent allegations”.
Virgin Media O2 said: “We respect the ongoing investigations, but these troubling allegations and the manner in which the situation has been handled do not represent companies in Britain.”
Supermarket group Asda and banking group NatWest say they have stopped doing business with the Confederation of British Industry while investigations are ongoing.
The government had already announced that it would stop its involvement with the business group.
The Confederation of British Industry, which claims to speak on behalf of 190,000 companies, has been embroiled in scandal following previous allegations of rape, as well as allegations of sexual harassment.
The Association of British Insurance Brokers said last week it had withdrawn its membership “in light of recent reports”.
Work with the police
“Our thoughts are with any woman who has been a victim of said behaviour,” Brian McBride, president of the Confederation of British Industry, said in a statement.
He added: “While the CBI was not previously aware of the most serious allegations, it is essential that they are now thoroughly investigated, and we are in close contact with the police to help ensure any perpetrators are brought to justice.”
Chief Detective Richard White of the City of London Police said: “In addition to our investigations into sexual misconduct at the CBI, we received another serious allegation on Wednesday 19 April.
He said that no one has been arrested, indicating that investigations are still ongoing, and asked anyone who has any information to contact him.
The City of London Police were already investigating an alleged rape at a Confederation of British Industry summer party in 2019. This and other allegations of misconduct came to light earlier this month.
The group suspended three employees pending the outcome of an investigation by law firm Fox Williams.
stalking allegation
The Guardian also reported that a woman in the Confederation of British Industry’s London office was stalked by a colleague in 2018.
She complained to the Confederation of British Industry and the harassment charge was upheld.
However, the newspaper reported that the man continued to work for the organization and eventually left for reasons unrelated to this incident.
In response, the Confederation of British Industry said: “We are aware of the content of the harassment report shown as relating to an allegation made and investigated in January 2018.”
He added, “The harassment result was upheld and a penalty imposed.”
Caroline Fairbairn was Director General of the Confederation of British Industry between 2015 and 2020, and the BBC has contacted her for comment.
“The Board will communicate its response to this and other steps we are taking to bring regarding the broader change needed early next week,” she said.
Separately, the Confederation of British Industry sacked managing director Tony Dancker last week following allegations of workplace misconduct once morest him which Fox Williams investigated.
Dunker took over from Caroline in late 2020.
In an interview with the BBC earlier this week, Dunker admitted he made some staff “very uncomfortable”, adding: “I apologize for that”.
But he said his name had become associated with allegations of serious sexual abuse that occurred before he joined the CBI. He is now considering taking legal action once morest the organisation.
McBride said Dunker was fired on strong legal grounds.
The Confederation of British Industry appointed Rene Newton-Smith – former chief economist – as its new director general. Newton Smith had been working for Confederation of British Industry for nearly nine years before leaving last month to join Barclays.
“We are rightly conducting an urgent review of our culture to right wrongs where we can and fix our workplace for everyone,” McBride said.
However, some questioned whether McBride was the right person to lead an overhaul of the organization and its culture.
Commenting on Thursday on Newton Smith’s appointment, Anne Frank, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Management, said: “I’m not sure there is a great deal of openness and transparency around the process and obviously you can ask if someone who previously held a position there is a worker.” The appropriate change is to change the culture.”
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