A scathing report into Manchester City Council's working culture has found a prevailing “boys' club” mentality and widespread bad behaviour by senior staff. The internal document – that will be shared with council workers tomorrow and is based on a survey of nearly 1,200 staff – was commissioned in light of reporting by The Mill last year that uncovered the “sleazy” behaviour of senior officials at a staff awards ceremony in 2024.
The report describes a culture at the council in which senior staff can act inappropriately with seeming impunity. Many junior staff members believe raising issues will lead to retaliation, and 59% of survey respondents have witnessed or experienced a form of harassment, discrimination or abuse in the last two years. The report's authors – an external consultancy called Impact Culture, which was hired by the council – said this painted a picture of an organisation where people “universally disbelieve that misconduct is dealt with.”
One worker recalled a young apprentice being repeatedly sexually harassed by a senior colleague until she was forced to leave the council. “He was allowed to stay,” they said of the offending staffer. “She was interviewed by two male managers and needless to say she left.” There are also allegations of racism, with staff accusing managers of speaking openly about their “hatred of Muslims and non-whites.”
A council worker, speaking to us on the condition of anonymity, said of the report: “if I were a manager that would sicken me to my core.”
When we approached the council before publishing this story, CEO Tom Stannard said: “it is completely unacceptable that anyone should feel undervalued, unable to raise concerns, unsupported if they do or – in the worst cases – unsafe. These issues cannot and will not be ignored.” Stannard said the report is the product of an “unparalleled council-wide listening exercise with nothing off limits”, and added: “Some of the experiences described are deeply concerning and make for uncomfortable reading.”
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