Post by Teddy Bear on May 21, 2014 22:26:48 GMT
When reading some of the criticisms expressed below, it was clear that it was only because the BBC does not have to earn the money it gets that it is able to be the way it is. So long as it is funded the way it is it will continue to be a parasitical negative infrastructure.
BBC bureaucratic and a white, middle class organisation, say employees
Anonymous reviews of the BBC by staff on the Glassdoor website praise “excellent opportunities and work-life balance" but criticise management structure
The BBC has been described as "bureaucratic", "Orwellian" and a "holiday camp" by its employees in a series of anonymous reviews of the corporation.
While current and former employees praise the “excellent opportunities” and work-life balance offered by working at the BBC, the corporation’s management structure is criticised by many, according to media trade magazine Press Gazette.
Staff criticised the layers of management and hierarchy at the BBC saying a lot of people remain in the organisation too long making it difficult to get promoted.
More than 130 reviews of the corporation were submitted to the Glassdoor website, which aims to give prospective employees an insight into companies.
The BBC scores 3.5 stars out of five from employees, with 78 per cent recommending it to others as an employer.
Staff praised the corporation’s internal training opportunities, high-class facilities and the reputation of the BBC. But the importance of unions, poor pay and a lack of opportunities for progression were among those frequently highlighted as negatives.
One anonymous employee, who worked at the BBC for ten years and praised its journalism, described it as "the worst employer I have ever worked for".
They added: "It relies on its name and former reputation to keep salaries down. Bullying by managers is rife. Working hours often intolerable. There is no development of staff.
"It operates on the basis of 'the old school tie' with those from Oxbridge or the well-connected occupying senior roles.”
Along with looking good on a CV, one of the main reasons employees like the corporation is the good work-life balance on offer.
"Compared to other companies I've worked at it was like being in a holiday camp,” said one current systems engineer, writing in January.
“Compared to any other IT job I've had the work life balance was amazing. No one expected anyone to work anything more than 9-5. At 5 o'clock the office would empty out within 5 minutes.
Management throughout the organisation was criticised by the majority of reviewers.
A former senior broadcast journalist said: “End the culture of impunity for senior managers. The ones who make serious mistakes or don't do anything should be fired, not promoted sideways.”
A technology editor, who described the corporation as a “monumentally cumbersome bureaucracy”, gave the following advice to senior management: “Leave... There is no adequate leadership at senior management level and the BBC is scared of challenging the government or anyone else for that matter.
"Programming is more and more pedestrian and lacks the edge the BBC has come to be known for. It is little more than a commissioning house.”
A current news director said: “The management, with a very few exceptions, are absolutely terrible.”
Another former employee of ten years described it as a “Byzantine management culture”. Their advice was: “Invest in reporters and producers - not in managers!”
The one senior manager who filled in a review form admitted that “bureaucracy” was a problem at the BBC but also criticised “obsessive public scrutiny from political opponents”.
The BBC was also accused of hypocrisy with regards to its commitment to employ minority groups.
A former employee said: “There is a lot of hot air about diversity but most action is relatively tokenist.
"It is definitely a very white, middle class organisation dominated by people with a classical educational background.”
In all, 24 out of 133 people reviewing the BBC awarded it 5 stars, with ten of those criticising bureacracy or management. Some 43 rated it with 4 stars, 42 gave it three stars, 17 rated it at two stars and seven gave it the lowest rating, one star.
Elsewhere on the Glassdoor website, Channel 4 scored an average of 4.6 stars (from seven reviews), Sky 3.2 (from 162 reviews), ITV 3.1 (from 18 reviews) and ITN three (from three reviews).
Press Gazette said it had researched BBC in the most depth because it is the biggest media organisation in the UK, employing 8,000 editorial staff in BBC News alone.
A BBC spokesman said: "We're pleased that so many people enjoy working at the BBC."
Last month, the BBC's Director of News, James Harding, said his staff had been given training to improve the diversity of new recruits, with targets to increase the representation of ethnic minorities.
In a speech to staff at New Broadcasting House, he disclosed the senior recruiting board were so concerned about continuing to employ staff with similar backgrounds that they had each take a course in "unconscious bias".
They are already offered video training on diversity issues, with online information to teach them how to challenge stereotypes and preconceptions about race.
The BBC has already been publicly challenged to improve the representation of ethnic minority by actors including Lenny Henry.
Anonymous reviews of the BBC by staff on the Glassdoor website praise “excellent opportunities and work-life balance" but criticise management structure
The BBC has been described as "bureaucratic", "Orwellian" and a "holiday camp" by its employees in a series of anonymous reviews of the corporation.
While current and former employees praise the “excellent opportunities” and work-life balance offered by working at the BBC, the corporation’s management structure is criticised by many, according to media trade magazine Press Gazette.
Staff criticised the layers of management and hierarchy at the BBC saying a lot of people remain in the organisation too long making it difficult to get promoted.
More than 130 reviews of the corporation were submitted to the Glassdoor website, which aims to give prospective employees an insight into companies.
The BBC scores 3.5 stars out of five from employees, with 78 per cent recommending it to others as an employer.
Staff praised the corporation’s internal training opportunities, high-class facilities and the reputation of the BBC. But the importance of unions, poor pay and a lack of opportunities for progression were among those frequently highlighted as negatives.
One anonymous employee, who worked at the BBC for ten years and praised its journalism, described it as "the worst employer I have ever worked for".
They added: "It relies on its name and former reputation to keep salaries down. Bullying by managers is rife. Working hours often intolerable. There is no development of staff.
"It operates on the basis of 'the old school tie' with those from Oxbridge or the well-connected occupying senior roles.”
Along with looking good on a CV, one of the main reasons employees like the corporation is the good work-life balance on offer.
"Compared to other companies I've worked at it was like being in a holiday camp,” said one current systems engineer, writing in January.
“Compared to any other IT job I've had the work life balance was amazing. No one expected anyone to work anything more than 9-5. At 5 o'clock the office would empty out within 5 minutes.
Management throughout the organisation was criticised by the majority of reviewers.
A former senior broadcast journalist said: “End the culture of impunity for senior managers. The ones who make serious mistakes or don't do anything should be fired, not promoted sideways.”
A technology editor, who described the corporation as a “monumentally cumbersome bureaucracy”, gave the following advice to senior management: “Leave... There is no adequate leadership at senior management level and the BBC is scared of challenging the government or anyone else for that matter.
"Programming is more and more pedestrian and lacks the edge the BBC has come to be known for. It is little more than a commissioning house.”
A current news director said: “The management, with a very few exceptions, are absolutely terrible.”
Another former employee of ten years described it as a “Byzantine management culture”. Their advice was: “Invest in reporters and producers - not in managers!”
The one senior manager who filled in a review form admitted that “bureaucracy” was a problem at the BBC but also criticised “obsessive public scrutiny from political opponents”.
The BBC was also accused of hypocrisy with regards to its commitment to employ minority groups.
A former employee said: “There is a lot of hot air about diversity but most action is relatively tokenist.
"It is definitely a very white, middle class organisation dominated by people with a classical educational background.”
In all, 24 out of 133 people reviewing the BBC awarded it 5 stars, with ten of those criticising bureacracy or management. Some 43 rated it with 4 stars, 42 gave it three stars, 17 rated it at two stars and seven gave it the lowest rating, one star.
Elsewhere on the Glassdoor website, Channel 4 scored an average of 4.6 stars (from seven reviews), Sky 3.2 (from 162 reviews), ITV 3.1 (from 18 reviews) and ITN three (from three reviews).
Press Gazette said it had researched BBC in the most depth because it is the biggest media organisation in the UK, employing 8,000 editorial staff in BBC News alone.
A BBC spokesman said: "We're pleased that so many people enjoy working at the BBC."
Last month, the BBC's Director of News, James Harding, said his staff had been given training to improve the diversity of new recruits, with targets to increase the representation of ethnic minorities.
In a speech to staff at New Broadcasting House, he disclosed the senior recruiting board were so concerned about continuing to employ staff with similar backgrounds that they had each take a course in "unconscious bias".
They are already offered video training on diversity issues, with online information to teach them how to challenge stereotypes and preconceptions about race.
The BBC has already been publicly challenged to improve the representation of ethnic minority by actors including Lenny Henry.