The mining giant reverses course days after defending its choice to keep the unnamed executive working during the inquiry
Fortescue has suspended a senior executive from all duties while an external investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and bullying continues, reversing a decision made just a week earlier to keep the employee working during the probe.
The Perth-headquartered iron ore producer confirmed the move today (25 August), saying the change followed further external legal and governance advice.
A Fortescue spokeswoman said: "It has been decided that the employee who is the subject of the allegations will not undertake any work for Fortescue while the investigation continues. The investigation is ongoing and no findings have been made. Sexual harassment, unlawful discrimination and any behaviour that makes people feel unsafe have no place at Fortescue."
The executive cannot be named for legal reasons, and the allegations against them have not been proven.
Law firm MinterEllison's Brisbane office was engaged in July after an employee raised a complaint through Fortescue's internal processes. Just last week, Gus Pichot, Fortescue's chief executive of growth and energy, defended keeping the executive at work, telling an earnings call the company had "taken extensive external legal and governance advice" and was confident it was following the proper process. Fortescue has not detailed what changed in the intervening days....
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