Exit questionnaires, mandatory training and on-set safeguarding representatives are among the policies UK pay-TV broadcaster Sky is introducing to stamp out bullying and harassment on set.
In a letter sent to its major suppliers today (June 28) by managing director of content Zai Bennett and Sky Studios chief content officer Jane Millichip, the broadcaster has issued a raft of updated measures and reminded its partners of their role to “uphold and exemplify” the standards of behaviour it expects.
The duo said that following recent allegations of sexual misconduct and unacceptable behaviour “now is the time for us all to take a firm stand”.
They added: “It is our belief that Sky already has good and appropriate policies in place on our sets, as outlined below, but recent events have shown us that we could and should do more. We believe the cast and crew of every production commissioned or produced by Sky and Sky Studios, has the right to work in a safe and supportive environment.”
The pair said they wanted to “ensure there is no ambiguity about behaviours, work culture and the professional standards we expect on our productions.”
In April, Sky halted all work with Noel Clarke following allegations of misconduct made against him. A fourth series of Clarke and Ashley Walters’ Sky 1’s Bulletproof was due to enter production later this year.
Applicable to all Sky and Sky Studios productions, the enhanced measures (continued below below) require all productions to have a trained safeguarding representative; all cast and crew to undertake a ‘respect in the workplace’ online module; prominently advertise reporting and support lines on-set and freelancers to fill out anonymous exit questionnaires.
At present Sky has a confidential hotline, Sky Listens; “strongly encourages” senior leaders on scripted productions to undertake ScreenSkills leadership and management training course and has oversight of anti-harassment policies from its production partners.
The letter concluded: “As those responsible for the on-the-ground delivery of our content, we require all our production partners to model, uphold, and exemplify these standards of behaviour.”
Sky: safeguarding policies in full
Safeguarding representative
Sky requires every production to have a named safeguarding representative who will support the production with information on policies and routes to report ideas.
The representative can be an existing member of crew who has had safeguarding and bullying and harassment training.
Mandatory respect in the workplace training
Everyone working on a Sky production, both cast and crew, will complete an online respect in the workplace training module.
Sky now requires all managers on scripted productions to complete a ScreenSkills leadership training course with early-stage plans to roll out into unscripted.
Clear information on how to report concerns
Productions are now required to prominently display details of how to report incidents in areas including private spaces such a toilets and trailers and public spaces, such as canteens and break spaces.
Services listed should be Sky Listens, the Film and TV Charity’s support line and the on-set safeguarding representative.
Anonymous exit questionnaires
Everyone finishing a production will be given an exit questionnaire to complete to raise any concern or provide recommendations for improvements to future productions.
This story first appeared on Screen’s sister site Broadcast
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