13 More Examples of Misconduct in the News October 2024
October’s chills are creeping into the workplace as misconduct headlines reveal real-life horror stories. These headlines cover a range of unsettling issues, from whistleblower complaints against a Seattle city official to an ex-Abercrombie CEO arrest on sex trafficking-related charges.
We already shared 13 spooky stories that send shivers down your spine, exposing the alarming realities of workplace misconduct. See 13 more examples of misconduct in the news:
1. Rantz: Seattle city official Gino Betts hit with ‘whistleblower’ complaints as rumors swirl he’s on his way out (MyNorthwest)
“‘At least seven different civilian [Office of Police Accountability] employees in the small department have filed HR complaints against Director Betts for workplace misconduct,’ the email complaint states. ‘Betts manages with fear and intimidation and has created a toxic work environment. OPA employees respect the chain of command and have been trying to fix this internally for over a year and a half. Betts knows what he is doing is wrong because he only lashes out at non-union employees who he knows cannot fight back for fear of being fired.’”
2. Prosecutors say Alaska judge's misconduct warrants vacating man's conviction (Reuters)
“Federal prosecutors in Alaska have moved to vacate a man's assault conviction, saying the judge who presided over his case and later resigned because of a sexual misconduct scandal had an undisclosed personal relationship with a prosecutor involved in the case.”
3. Global Ethics Day: Most employees say they don’t work in an ethical culture (SAICA)
“The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) has warned that workplace misconduct is worse than ever, with almost 9 out of 10 employees saying they don’t feel like they work in an ethical workplace culture.”
4. Why would they stay?’ Women leaving tech to avoid harassment (The Sydney Morning Herald)
The report “found that 72 per cent of victims of harassment, bullying or discrimination decided to leave their business altogether. Formal reporting of incidents remained low, with just 23 per cent of incidents escalated through official channels, with victims often fearing repercussions. In a damning finding of how technology companies are handling these issues, 96 per cent of those who reported harassment or bullying then had negative experiences dealing with senior leaders, HR or managers.”
5. Ex-Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries arrested on sex trafficking-related charges (NBC4 Washington)
6. FDIC selects former FAA official to oversee new office of professional conduct (Dodd Frank Update)
7. WiseTech rallies the most in 3 years – Is it time to jump back on board? (Market Index)
“WiseTech shares surged 22% after CEO Richard White's sudden resignation amid workplace misconduct allegations, with CFO Andrew Cartledge stepping in as Interim CEO”
8. Swillhouse Co-Founder Anton Forte Steps Down As CEO Following Controversy (Pedestrian TV)
“Back in August, the Sydney Morning Herald published the findings of a months-long investigation which alleged that sexual assault, harassment and misconduct were commonplace across the six venues. The report also claimed when these issues were reported by staff, they were not taken seriously by management.”
9. Bullying and sexual harassment at Lloyd’s market firms surge after Covid return to work (TradeWinds)
10. Sean Combs Lawsuit: Employees Forced to Carry Drugs? (The Music Essentials)
11. Misconduct Allegations Surge at Financial Firms FCA Report (Financial News)
The number of non-financial misconduct allegations has surged by 72% from 2021 to 2023. Bullying, harassment, and discrimination account for nearly half of reported incidents.
12. Vernon Fire Chief resigns amid employee allegations and HR investigation (White Mountain Independent)
The request, made on behalf of the Vernon Chapter of the White Mountain Fire Fighters Association (IAFF Local 4217), outlines concerns including alleged religious discrimination, retaliatory actions, and mismanagement that reportedly created a hostile work environment at the Vernon Fire Department.
13. Benjamin Hatfield resigns as Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney (WVNS 59 News)
Hatfield’s resignation comes after multiple allegations against him regarding various forms of workplace misconduct as Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney. Hatfield had returned to work at the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office back in September.
As if that’s not enough, we’re excited to share our recent partnership with WRKdefined to share the wildest workplace stories of HR Tech Conference attendees in their new podcast: Workplace Misconduct: A Mandatory Meeting. Tune in to Episode 1 where William Tincup and Ryan Leary speak to Mike Stafiej, the CEO of Erin, about his real-life workplace nightmares.
While the spooky season may bring out our ghoulish side, it can also reveal the darker side of workplace culture. For an in-depth look at these pressing issues, stay tuned for upcoming horror stories on Fama’s #9to5Nightmares podcast and WRKdefined’s Mandatory Meeting: Workplace Misconduct Takeover. For more information and practical advice on addressing these challenges responsibly, connect with Fama today.
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