Women tell union that toxic behaviour blights UK creative industries

Bullying and harassment towards women is still rife within the creative industries, according to a survey that found seven out of 10 of its female workforce had experienced toxic behaviour.

- Michael Savage Media editor

The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, said the industries needed to take robust action after the "deeply concerning" findings.

The survey, undertaken by the Bectu union, found that 69% of women in the sector said they had directly experienced workplace bullying and harassment in the past 12 months. The figure rose to 72% for workers with disabilities.

There has been a flurry of high-profile cases, including allegations against Gregg Wallace. The cases have fuelled several attempts to improve behaviour in the sector, including a culture review at the BBC and the creation of an independent standards body. However, the union's survey revealed serious issues persist, with many of those who encountered toxic behaviour not reporting it.