Clear actions for CSIRO from independent report

The CSIRO has released the General Findings Report of the independent investigator, Professor Dennis Pearce AO, who has been examining allegations from current and former staff of workplace bullying and other unreasonable behaviour in the organisation.

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Megan Clark endorsed the report’’s recommendations and said that she, the Executive and the Board were committed to addressing matters raised in the report.

“I would like to thank and acknowledge the individuals who made a submission and I recognise that it may have been hard for some people to revisit these matters,” Dr Clark said.

“While the independent investigation found no major or widespread issues with inappropriate behaviour at CSIRO, there are areas of concern that we need to address.

“One case of unreasonable behaviour, bullying, harassment or discrimination is one case too many.”

There were 113 people, around half of them current employees and half former employees, who made a submission to the report.  From the submissions, 130 discrete allegations were made about alleged unreasonable behaviour, bullying, discrimination and/or harassment.

Professor Pearce has recommended how each one of these should proceed. This will see either further investigation by Professor Pearce, investigation or further action by the CSIRO or no further recommended action. All of the submissions have been considered for his General Findings Report.

“At the end of these investigations, if we find that any people have been bullied or harassed, as Chief Executive of CSIRO, I will apologise unreservedly,” Dr Clark said.

“Professor Pearce was clear that we need to shift from dealing with the issues as an individual’s problem, to dealing with them as an organisation’s problem.”

There are 34 detailed recommendations. They include improved dispute resolution processes and support for staff, better training and greater monitoring of results.

“The Board has accepted my advice that we work with our staff, our stakeholders and our Staff Association to implement the recommendations made by Professor Pearce,” Dr Clark said.

“The vast majority of staff tell me that they already feel supported and valued and treated with respect at CSIRO. I have asked them today for their support to make this everyone’s experience.

“It is not enough that everyone goes home safely at night. Everyone should go home with a sense of pride and satisfaction. 

“We have some of Australia’s and the world’s best and brightest people working on the nation’s biggest challenges. We are known for our great science and our standards should be just as high for the way we treat each other at work.”