Two sisters who worked for Channel Seven in Adelaide have been let go after one of them lodged a sexual harassment complaint against one of the network’s senior male producers.
According to The Guardian, Amy and Sophie Taeuber had worked for Channel Seven in Adelaide for four years before Amy filed the complaint against a senior colleague who had allegedly made statements of a sexual nature about her.
Both women were suspended weeks later, with Amy accused of misconduct, and last month the sisters were sacked.
Amy, who was one year into a two-year cadetship at Channel Seven, is now seeking redress at the Fair Work Commission through a general protections application for adverse action against the network.
A former Seven executive told The Guardian that Amy was a hard-working and promising young journalist who had been chosen as a news cadet last year on the basis of her excellent work for several years at the network.
“The feeling amongst staff is Amy has been victimised for making a complaint,” another former Seven staffer said.
A Seven spokeswoman said the “proper process is being followed” and she could not comment as it was a legal matter.
Workplace lawyer John Laxon, who also represents Stephen Rice (the producer who was sacked over the botched 60 Minutes child snatch saga) is acting for Amy in the upcoming dispute, and declined to comment when approached by The Guardian.
