Fonterra bans EY staff facing misconduct probe: report

EY staff members who are subject to past or present misconduct investigations have been banned from Fonterra projects, according to a report.

The removal was requested by the dairy co-operative after it received complaints that an EY contractor subject to a misconduct probe had been on its premises.

"The safety and wellbeing of our people is our utmost priority, and we take accusations of misconduct extremely seriously," said Kate Daly, Fonterra managing director for people and culture, as quoted by Stuff.

"As part of this, we contacted EY and requested that any contractors subject to past or present investigations into misconduct be removed from Fonterra projects."

EY announces new review of misconduct concerns

In response, EY managing partner Simon O'Connor said they are "supporting Fonterra in relation to its investigation."

EY said it will also carry out a new review of misconduct complaints over the past five years, Stuff reported.

"[EY's] independent review of historical complaints related to behavioural misconduct will help us to build confidence in our complaints process, to help all our people feel safe at work," O'Connor told the news outlet.

The announcement came within a year after an independent review of the accounting firm's workplace culture was released, revealing a low trust level of the organisation's reporting mechanism.

Report recommends improvements to workplace culture

EY Oceania previously said it accepts the report's recommendations to make "meaningful improvements to its workplace culture."

Despite this, allegations about the company's unhealthy and toxic workplace culture continued after the report's release, which were documented by Stuff. Its chair, Braden Dickson, also left the organisation early this year for "historical behavioural matter."

The Department of Corrections, which previously tapped EY to review its handling of sexual harassment complaints, also sought explanation of the allegations about the accounting firm's workplace culture.

Amid the reports, EY staff and alumni are still encouraged to come forward if they experienced inappropriate behaviour from colleagues.

"We continue to encourage anyone at EY, including alumni, to come forward if they have experienced behaviour that does not align with our code or EY values, regardless of whether this is recent or historical," O'Connor said.