The CBI, the main British employers' organization, is the target of a second accusation of rape involving employees, revealed by the daily newspaper
The Guardian
on Friday.
"A woman claims to have been raped by two male colleagues when she worked at the Confederation of British Industries (CBI)"
in a foreign office, wrote the Guardian on Friday.
“She is the second woman to claim to have been the victim of rape at the CBI, after another employee who says she was raped by a manager in 2019 during a summer party on a boat on the Thames”, adds the daily
. .
In the article, the young woman denounces the
“culture”
of the CBI.
The CBI in a statement called the new allegations '
horrific'.
.
The employers' organization says it
"has not previously been aware of the most serious accusations, and it is vital that they are fully investigated
", adding that it is actively collaborating with the police.
The
Guardian
article reports separate accusations of harassment that allegedly took place in 2018, from an employee who was notably followed at home by a colleague, and stalked online.
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“We recognize the substance of the article with regard to the accusations made and examined in January 2018”
, reacts the CBI in its press release, adding that the facts of harassment have been
“proved and that a sanction has been imposed”
.
The press release nevertheless affirms that the CBI
“does not recognize many of the most serious elements of the article
” in particular the fact that the incriminated person would have followed the victim at her home.
He concludes by pointing out that the CBI is currently reviewing
“its internal culture to repair the damage and reform our workplace”
.
A new report from the Fox Williams law firm set up to investigate the various allegations is expected to be received by the organization on Friday, and its board is expected to announce action next week.
The rape allegations precede the arrival at the head of the organization of ex-leader Tony Danker, sacked last week.
In a BBC interview aired on Wednesday, he considered himself a scapegoat and unfairly sacked, insisting that he was in no way incriminated in the rape charges.
However, he acknowledged having made some colleagues
“uncomfortable”
and apologized.
Tony Danker had been targeted a month earlier by allegations of
“unsolicited contact”
deemed
“sexual harassment”
at his workplace.
CBI Chairman Brian McBride called his version of events
"selective"
, arguing that substantial arguments had been made to justify his dismissal.
Sign of the malaise, the CBI has seen its usual partners distance themselves in recent days, some companies reassessing their membership status while the government has interrupted its collaboration.
