Bectu has outlined six measures that it believes will help stamp out bullying and harassment in TV and film production.
Launched as part of the union’s #unseenonscreen campaign, and the publication of a series of testimonials from victims of abusive behaviour, the six demands are:
- All productions should hire an intimacy coordinator to oversee consent and facilitate safe practices during scenes where intimacy is performed.
- Productions should always have a safeguarding officer on set to log and direct concerns, take reports of bullying and harassment and provide general support in preventing misconduct.
- All staff, including new entrants and freelancers, should be required to undergo pre-production training on equality, diversity and inclusivity, equal opportunities and relevant workplace policies.
- Clear and enforceable contractual obligations must be established to ensure dignity at work – including minimum standards on conditions that enable everyone to work safely.
- The creation of a policy for processing complaints of bullying and harassment, with clear avenues for resolutions.
- An external reporting body should be set up to look at unresolved historical complaints.
Bectu head Philippa Childs said the demands are a driver for long-lasting change and “a blueprint for how the industry can tackle this endemic issue and assure workers in film and TV that their complaints will be taken seriously.”
The plan follows the publication in August of Bectu's State of Play 2021 report, which exposed poor management practice across the industry.
