Post by Teddy Bear on Aug 17, 2009 18:44:50 GMT
Why am I not surprised!
Just a few days since this story was running
BBC splashes out on £11,000 leaving party for Jenny Abramsky... and licence payers foot the bill the following story comes out that the BBC will not send wreaths to those who have died while still employed by them.
If any of the BBC higher echelon are reading this, you have no idea how much pain I wish on you - in this world and any other you might go to. For all you stand for, for your base mentality, and the stench you have filled the world with.
Just a few days since this story was running
BBC splashes out on £11,000 leaving party for Jenny Abramsky... and licence payers foot the bill the following story comes out that the BBC will not send wreaths to those who have died while still employed by them.
If any of the BBC higher echelon are reading this, you have no idea how much pain I wish on you - in this world and any other you might go to. For all you stand for, for your base mentality, and the stench you have filled the world with.
BBC refuses to pay for funeral flowers for staff (but spends thousands sending bouquets to stars like Jonathan Ross)
By Daily Mail Reporter
The BBC is refusing to pay for flowers at the funerals of staff who died in service but will splash out thousands of pounds on bouquets for 'talent' like Jonathan Ross.
Isabel Cosgrove, who works for BBC Scotland, hit out at her employer's expenses policy in the company's in-house newspaper, Ariel, complaining that she has been banned from sending wreaths to the families of deceased colleagues.
By contrast, BBC chief Jana Bennett claimed almost £2,000 in expenses for flowers including £100 on a bouquet for Jonathan Ross to congratulate him on his £18 million contract.
Ms Cosgrove wrote: 'I work in BBC People and therefore have to deal with sad situations like the death in service of a member of staff.
'In these cases, one of the things that helps the family is that the BBC acknowledges its appreciation of the deceased staff member.
'I think most of us would agree that this is normally shown, amongst cards and letters, by the sending of flowers to the funeral.
'However, we have been prevented from doing this in the last few situations in Scotland because of the expenses policy.
'I have been looking at the recently published expenses of the senior executives and note that they have successfully claimed for sending flowers to individuals. How on earth is that possible?'
It is thought that Ms Cosgrove was referring, in particular, to the tragic recent death of John Smart, a studio services manager at BBC Scotland.
He died suddenly at the age of 48 and his funeral service was packed out with friends and colleagues.
BBC bosses have also claimed expenses for attending funerals.
Richard Deverell, the controller of children's television, reportedly charged £45 for a wreath for a non-staff member in 2008.
Similarly, Jonathan Beazley, a controller in BBC Vision Studios, reportedly claimed £4 to take the Tube back from a memorial service last year while Mark Damazer, the Radio 4 controller, charged £25 for the cost of returning from a funeral in 2006.
But the response of the BBC's chief financial officer Zarin Patel gave little hope that a change of policy is imminent.
She said that executives were allowed to buy bouquets to reward the BBC's 'talent'.
In her reply, she said: 'Our staff are very important to us and they make the BBC what it is but it is still hard to justify to the licence fee payer the purchase of gifts for staff from licence fee funds.
'Flowers and other gifts are however occasionally purchased for talent to mark notable successes and significant events.
'This helps the BBC in the building and nurturing of relationships and collaborations to bring the best performers to air and is usual amongst this community.'
By Daily Mail Reporter
The BBC is refusing to pay for flowers at the funerals of staff who died in service but will splash out thousands of pounds on bouquets for 'talent' like Jonathan Ross.
Isabel Cosgrove, who works for BBC Scotland, hit out at her employer's expenses policy in the company's in-house newspaper, Ariel, complaining that she has been banned from sending wreaths to the families of deceased colleagues.
By contrast, BBC chief Jana Bennett claimed almost £2,000 in expenses for flowers including £100 on a bouquet for Jonathan Ross to congratulate him on his £18 million contract.
Ms Cosgrove wrote: 'I work in BBC People and therefore have to deal with sad situations like the death in service of a member of staff.
'In these cases, one of the things that helps the family is that the BBC acknowledges its appreciation of the deceased staff member.
'I think most of us would agree that this is normally shown, amongst cards and letters, by the sending of flowers to the funeral.
'However, we have been prevented from doing this in the last few situations in Scotland because of the expenses policy.
'I have been looking at the recently published expenses of the senior executives and note that they have successfully claimed for sending flowers to individuals. How on earth is that possible?'
It is thought that Ms Cosgrove was referring, in particular, to the tragic recent death of John Smart, a studio services manager at BBC Scotland.
He died suddenly at the age of 48 and his funeral service was packed out with friends and colleagues.
BBC bosses have also claimed expenses for attending funerals.
Richard Deverell, the controller of children's television, reportedly charged £45 for a wreath for a non-staff member in 2008.
Similarly, Jonathan Beazley, a controller in BBC Vision Studios, reportedly claimed £4 to take the Tube back from a memorial service last year while Mark Damazer, the Radio 4 controller, charged £25 for the cost of returning from a funeral in 2006.
But the response of the BBC's chief financial officer Zarin Patel gave little hope that a change of policy is imminent.
She said that executives were allowed to buy bouquets to reward the BBC's 'talent'.
In her reply, she said: 'Our staff are very important to us and they make the BBC what it is but it is still hard to justify to the licence fee payer the purchase of gifts for staff from licence fee funds.
'Flowers and other gifts are however occasionally purchased for talent to mark notable successes and significant events.
'This helps the BBC in the building and nurturing of relationships and collaborations to bring the best performers to air and is usual amongst this community.'