Ray Hadley has apologised to the entire staff of 2GB after a week of mounting pressure about his alleged bullying, including reducing a young staffer to tears.
Hadley addressed 2GB staff in the boardroom at 12.15pm and told them he apologised for any embarrassment he might have caused to them or their families, and that he hoped to make a fresh start, a source said. Some applauded Hadley at the end of his speech.
After the apology ... Ray Hadley leaves the 2GB offices at Pyrmont.Credit: Anthony Johnson
The network's star presenter is understood to have been pressured into making the apology by 2GB management.
Managing director of Macquarie Radio Network, Rob Loewenthal, is particularly concerned about Hadley's behaviour, sources familiar with the situation say.
Hadley is accused of verbally abusing 29-year-old digital content manager, Richard Palmer, and "humiliating" the young man in front of a colleague.
On Thursday, Hadley allegedly called Palmer into his office, angered he had not uploaded the podcast of his show quickly enough onto the 2GB website.
Palmer was "visibly upset, crying" after the verbal abuse, according to one inside source, and made a formal complaint to Loewenthal.
Loewenthal took the complaint seriously and suspended Hadley.
But he was quickly neutered by the network's majority owner John Singleton who overruled the managing director's decision to stand Hadley down from his show until the following Monday.
Hadley is understood to have phoned Singleton, a personal friend, and complained about Loewenthal's decision. Singleton ensured the Ray Hadley Morning Show would continue with its top-rating presenter.