AFL boss Gillon McLachlan backs human resources on internal issues between employees
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has backed his human resources department to deal with issues between employees.
AFL
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AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has backed his human resources department to deal with issues between employees.
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The league is still seeking replacement for two executives, Simon Lethlean and Richard Simkiss, who quit last month following separate affairs with junior female employees.
But McLachlan said he had no concerns about a third executive who faced claims of inappropriate behaviour towards female employees.
“I don’t. I’ve got a strong HR department, and that doesn’t mean we’re an industry that doesn’t have issues like any business with a lot of employees,” he said.
“Everything is handled appropriately and there’s nothing that worries me at this point.”
Canberra-based consultants Rapid Context delivered its review of the league’s respect and responsibility policy towards women in June.
McLachlan briefed club bosses on the report this week and the AFL’s plan to respond to the issues identified.
Kate Jenkins, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, has overseen the review of the policy.
Ms Jenkins was involved in this week’s meetings with club bosses, along with Tanya Hosch, the AFL’s manager of inclusion and social policy.
McLachlan said he had read the Rapid Context report but declined to discuss its contents.
“I’m not going to get into all that until we release the report,” he said.
“So the timing now, we’ve got feedback from all the clubs that will go to the commission and then we’ll talk about that and have a release.”
The league has hired recruiters Six Degrees to replace Lethlean, who was the football operations manager.
Applications closed for the role last week.
Lethlean quit following a relationship with former AFL staffer Maddi Blomberg, the girlfriend of rugby union star Kurtley Beale.
Simkiss resigned as a result of his relationship with AFL legal counsel Ali Gronow.
The Herald Sun understands Ms Gronow has yet to return to work and her future plans at the AFL were unclear.
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