Business | Bartleby

Rio Tinto and the problem of toxic culture

A disturbing report has lessons for other industries

CORPORATE CULTURE is often like mist—indubitably there but hard to pin down. Occasionally it solidifies into something ugly. Take the following figures from an external investigation commissioned by Rio Tinto, a global mining giant, into its workplace culture. Almost half of Rio’s employees report having experienced bullying in the past five years. Almost a third of its female workers have endured sexual harassment; 21 women reported an actual or attempted sexual assault. Two in five Australian Aboriginals and Torres Strait islanders employed by the company have experienced racism.

This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Toxic sludge”

When the ride ends

From the February 12th 2022 edition

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