NHK president apologizes for improper response to sexual assault of worker
The public broadcaster failed to allow an employee who was sexually assaulted by a program cast member to work in another department after a leave of absence.
NHK's president expressed regret for the broadcaster's inadequate handling of a sexual assault case involving an employee. According to the investigation committee of outside experts, the organization failed to allow the victim to transfer to a different department after a leave of absence following the assault. The incident occurred after a party with a program participant and others, and the employee reported the assault a year and several months later.
Despite doctors recommending a transfer to a different department, NHK's personnel department denied the request, adhering to its policy that employees should return to their original departments after a leave of absence. The employee, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder due to the assault, was eventually transferred about three years after the incident.
The investigation committee criticized NHK for prioritizing principles over the well-being of employees and called for the broadcaster to establish a clear system for handling cases of human rights violations involving people outside the organization.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
