Rob Mills Architecture faces claims of ‘toxic’ workplace culture

Former ­employees at an award-winning architecture firm claim problems have been allowed to fester for years.

Internationally renowned architect Rob Mills, pictured in Melbourne.

More than a dozen former ­employees at an award-winning architecture firm have spoken out about their concerns that an allegedly toxic workplace culture has been allowed to fester for years.

Claims made by the ex-staff of Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors came after former studio ­director Juliana Junqueira ­alleged she was bullied and harassed before being placed on what she alleged was an ­unfounded performance ­improvement plan.

The 36-year-old withdrew a stop bullying application against her former employer and has now lodged a general protections application, dismissal, with the Fair Work Commission.

After The Australian revealed Ms Junqueira’s allegations, 13 Rob Mills Architecture former employees contacted the newspaper, with some releasing emails, diary notes and screen shots to detail their concerns about the culture of the company.

Responding to a series of claims, Mr Mills’s spokeswoman said a number of changes at the firm had “cultivated a positive and collaborative work environment”. “RMA has implemented significant changes to address past challenges, creating a more structured and collaborative business environment,” she said.

“These changes have cultivated a positive and collaborative work environment.”

Speaking on Ms Junqueira’s looming Fair Work case, the spokeswoman said Mr Mills and his company would “vigorously defend” the claims made.

“(Mr Mills and the firm) welcome the opportunity to have the matter contested before the courts,” she said. “The evidence we will present to the court will be compelling and will demonstrate the truth of the situation.”

Employees have spoken up about an allegedly toxic workplace.

A prominent architect who left Rob Mills Architecture and Interiors about 10 years ago after a four-year stint alleged Mr Mills requested a staff member pay back about $8000 out of their own pocket after an error in ­architectural drawings led to building rectifications.

Ultimately, he claimed, about four former employees agreed to share the cost of about $2000 each, the source said. The Australian spoke with two of the other ex-employees who were asked to pay this figure, who separately corroborated the incident. “I was pretty resilient. What shocked me was the way he treated others. It was just disgusting.”

Mr Mills’s spokeswoman ­denied this allegation, and said: “RMA has not ever requested or required to pay back any monetary amounts.”

It is alleged working days could start from 6am and end at midnight, while the ex-staff member said he could work up to 90 hours per week on occasion.

He urged the Australian Institute of Architects and other state registration bodies to monitor the industry more closely. “If there are complaints at the architects board directly about directors or other architects they should be able to put them on notice. Look at their registration, and cancel them if appropriate,” he said. “It’s about protecting members.”

Another ex-employee, who quit after about 18 months at the company in 2023, said he was reduced to tears within two weeks of starting at the firm.

“I was called a dumb f..k in front of the whole office,” he said.

Mr Mills’s spokeswoman said “the company would never condone the use of such language”.

And in response to a message from the architect to Mr Mills thanking the firm’s founder after he quit, Mr Mills allegedly told him he produced average work and was “fragile” about criticism.

Many of the staff described what they perceived as a pattern of behaviour, where a favourite ­architect or employee was publicly flattered before they were targeted or berated.

In response to a request for comment regarding allegations that Mr Mills “love bombs” staff before singling them out and that he contacted employees between 4am and 11pm, his spokeswoman said: “We disagree with that characterisation of Rob. He is passionate about his practice and his team.”

Three ex-staff members described the workplace as “toxic”. In response, Mr Mills’ spokeswoman said: “We disagree.”

RMA today has HR processes, protocols and practices that are designed to ensure that if a workplace matter arises, appropriate steps are taken to ensure the wellbeing of its employees and practice. We know the best way to have an enjoyable, productive and creative workplace is to have the best team we can, and we have a great team.”

A number of the ex-employees who spoke with The Australian claimed they saw Mr Mills drinking alcohol at the office.

In a screen shot of an online meeting involving ex-staff members and Mr Mills, seen by The Australian, Mr Mills is drinking what appears to be red wine at about 1pm.

In response to a request for comment about allegations Mr Mills drank alcohol during the day, including in the office, and this made staff feel uncomfortable, his spokeswoman said “on appropriate occasions beverages have been consumed in the ­office. Any other suggestion is denied.”

According to one email sent last May, seen by The Australian, all staff were reminded that “some forms of physical contact … can make your co-workers uncomfortable” in response to an alleged incident that took place in the office where a male inappropriately touched a female. The male is not alleged to be Mr Mills.

The email, titled “respecting co-workers’ personal boundaries – inappropriate touching”, contained a list of physical contacts that should not occur at work and included groping, massaging and “patting a leg”.

A spokeswoman for Mr Mills said the fact a note was sent to staff reminding them of appropriate behaviour “demonstrates there was no tolerance of behaviours that did not meet expected standards”. “Rob did respond to the staff email out of concern that an event had occurred and asked to be kept informed at all times,” she said.

In another email sent to a former staff member, who worked in a non-architectural role from 2021, Mr Mills questioned her capacity to perform her job in response to a query about a task.

The staff member told The Australian it was “50/50” if a new team member would make it through probation, there was a high turnover and that Mr Mills could target and “publicly criticise people” after he initially liked them. “He would make them the enemy of the entire office. He would fixate until they left,” she said.

In response to claims from a number of staff that there was a high turnover, Mr Mills’s spokeswoman said “there are staff who have been with RMA for decades and there have been other staff who have made decisions about their careers that include change”.

Another ex-staff member who worked at the company for about 18 months from 2011 told The Australian he felt “belittled” by Mr Mills. In an email exchange, seen by The Australian, Mr Mills accused the architect of performing at a “junior” level and was told to “sharpen up”.

“Day after day I was pushed and pulled mentally and emotionally. I’d get a pay rise for being amazing, then emails like those below that belittled me,” he told The Australian. “I genuinely thought I was absolutely useless as an architect and person.”

Ms Junquiera has alleged to global recruiting site Glassdoor she was concerned a number of “fake” comments were visible, a concern which reflected by other reviews. In response to a question about the allegation from The Australian, a spokesman said the company was “unable to comment on its moderation of employer pages”.

One of the negative reviews, which called the firm “terrible” and gave it one out of five stars, said “all positive reviews are fake to upgrade the rating”.

Mr Mills’s spokeswoman denied the company manipulated reviews. “RMA have never paid someone to write a positive review about working at the company,” she said.