McKinsey claims to have bullying and harassment-free workplace

afr.com:

Global strategy consulting firm McKinsey says it has not had any formal complaints of bullying or sexual harassment in its Australian office in the past five years, and just three allegations of employee misconduct.

The remarkably low rate of incidents comes despite workplace relations experts previously warning that low reporting rates usually mean employers do not have processes or cultures that encouraged transparency, rather than no misbehaviour occurring.

Responding to questions on notice from a Senate inquiry into conflicts of interest and poor behaviour by consulting firms, McKinsey also said it had just one formal complaint of discrimination by a former employee in the past five years.

Consulting giant McKinsey & Company says none of its Australian partners have faced bullying complaints in the past five years. 

The questions were part of the Senate’s inquiry into the integrity of consulting service providers, triggered by the PwC tax leaks scandal exposed by The Australian Financial Review.

McKinsey said there had been no misconduct cases lodged against any of its partners, with the three reported relating to “behavioural issues” and an expense violation by other staff members. It also said there had not been any disciplinary actions relating to conflicts of interest or misusing government information in the past five years.

But the firm failed to answer the inquiry’s questions on how it had resolved such issues, or its pay structures.

McKinsey and rival Boston Consulting Group have so far refused to appear before the inquiry, and senators have warned they will compel them to give evidence if they do not volunteer,

“Senators conducting this inquiry are a little perplexed by media reports suggesting some firms