CBI employees instructed they want permission to drink at summer season celebration
Staff at the scandal-hit Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have been told they need to get permission from their line managers to drink alcohol at its summer party, following claims of improper conduct at the top of the organisation.
The 59-year-old lobby group was rocked to its core last summer after a series of a harassment scandals, including former director-general Tony Danker being accused of making unwanted contact with a female employee that she considered to be sexual harassment.
More than a dozen women later claimed they they had been the victims of sexual misconduct by senior CBI figures, including one who alleged she was raped at a staff party on a boat.
In the wake of the scandals, the lobby group has told its roughly 250 employees that those who get permission cannot drink to excess, the Telegraph reported.
Alcohol can only be served at staff-only events if food is also served. The rules are reportedly even stricter for public events, including its upcoming London leader summer reception, which is set to bring over 100 ‘leaders in business and politics.’
The CBI told its staff that they ‘may not drink alcohol during working hours’, even while at external events.
Staff at the scandal-hit Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have been told they need to get permission from their line managers to drink alcohol at its summer party (File image)
The 59-year-old lobby group was rocked to its core last summer after a series of a harassment scandals (File image)
Former director-general Tony Danker (pictured) was accused of making unwanted contact with a female employee that she considered to be sexual harassment
‘If the event takes place outside of working hours, line manager approval must be sought in advance’, the rules added.
Staff have also been warned that the “provision of free alcoholic drinks by the CBI or any third-party organisation is not intended to encourage or facilitate anyone to drink excessively”.
Danker allegedly mixed with young female staff at a karaoke party and looked up colleagues on Instagram.
Mr Danker continued in his role even after the formal complaint was made and continued to represent the organisation at public events including a CBI conference where the keynote speaker was Education Secretary Gillian Keegan. But he was later sacked after the claims were made public.
None of the later claims, which included a senior manager sending explicit photographs to female employees over several years, the widespread use of cocaine at official events and a former board member touching a female employee’s bottom, related to Danker.
Within hours of the scandals being made public, the CBI was plunged into crisis with thousands of its high profile members including John Lewis and BMW, withdrawing their membership.
Meetings with ministers were also cancelled and the company said it was suspending all membership activities.
The effects of the allegations have had a lasting impact on the group whose membership has fallen from 190,000 last years to 170,000.
MailOnline has contacted the CBI for comment.
