"The accounts of bullying and harassment that sidelined two top managers at Big Four firms in the U.K. have exposed the tensions that persist in their pressure-cooker working environments despite promises to promote equity and work-life balance." - Bloomberg Law, March 10, 2021.
Of course, like much of professional services, the BigFour put out there rosy public relations about the human resources policies and mission of social justice.
But, as Bloomberg Law details, all that is extremely difficult given the rigid hierarchy, hellious workloads, extreme travel, pressure to bring in revenue (or miss out on promotions and juicy assignments) and internal interpersonal conflicts.
It should not have been an news item that two top executives - Dimple Agarwal at Deloitte U.K. and Bill Michael at KPMG U.K. - were accused of bullying. They were penalized. But, that punishment is unlikely to act as a deterrent for others at the top who assume they can play fast and loose with people. After all, jobs in professional services, be they in accounting or law or management consulting, are plums. They carry prestige. They pay well. And it's useful to have them on a resume.
So, essentially the professional services niche is stuck space. It's unlikely most employees will out wrongs or leave. That's the way it is.
Meanwile, diversity seems on hold. Only about 1% in the BigFour U.K. are Blacks. And less than one-fourth are women.
It's not unthinkable that Agarwal's behavior will result in a setback for female mobility at Deloitte U.K. The puzzle remains: Why wasn't she terminated from the organization? She only had been removed from her position in diversity - that is, People and Purpose.
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