Did Roger Sutton think he was running the Rock Radio Station?

6
3

Screen Shot 2014-11-20 at 9.48.27 am

Visible G-String Fridays?

Full body hugs?

Jokes about who you would and wouldn’t have sex with?

Honey? Sweety?

It’s like Roger thought he was running the Rock Radio Station, not a Government Public Service department set up to rebuild a shattered city.

Thank God for Andrea Vance’s hard hitting column on Tuesday to articulate the inconsistencies in the manner in which Sutton stood down.

Personally, I am always amazed when I am in meetings how many times someone will bring up sex. It seems ingrained into the male macho psyche that sexual references, sexual posturing, sexual boasting are all an acceptable topic in business meetings. The moment you speak up and suggest that language isn’t appropriate, you are always blackballed as ‘not one of the boys’.

TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com

Sutton may have thought he was being funny, or cheeky but it wasn’t and isn’t. The opportunity given to him by the SSC to give his side of the story and the bumbling cluster fuck that became afterwards shows the tin ear those who aren’t impacted by sexual harassment have towards the issue.

All we saw this week was privilege.

Meanwhile the women brave enough to complain has been maligned and the people of Christchurch are still waiting for their broken city to be fixed.

 

6 COMMENTS

  1. Have the old boys network rallied or what? This whole public show of unity and hugs sham has been a disgrace.

    Good article by Vance. But she can’t be long for this world if she keeps up this standard.

  2. The sad thing is that her career is probably over through no fault of her own. People at the top of the public service were standing clearly behind Sutton.

    I wish I could personally give her my support, but of course she should probably stay anonymous. I see that the Herald is itching for a muckraking story in their editorial.

    I wouldn’t mind betting he’ll be awarded an honour in due course.

  3. I cannot understand why Sutton is being allowed to put his side of this in the public domain when the complainant can’t. We aren’t getting the whole story, and that is a real concern.

    • Have to agree there, Nehemia. As someone who participated in a dispute process once, I can confirm that the non-disclosure clause on settlements is a legally binding agreement. As an experienced CEO, Sutton should have been aware of that. If not, he hjas been badly advised by his solicitor(s).

      But regardless, when I first saw/heard Sutton give his story at a press conference, there was a yawning chasm of information. No one gets to lose their job over a “hug”. There had to be more – much, much more more – than just a ‘hug’.

      As with most stories, the question I always ask is; What are we not being told?

      NZ is a small place and the truth – as Cameron Slater, Jason Ede, et al, and Cunliffe with his trust fund, found out – eventually comes out.

      • I agree, Frank, that the truth will eventually come out. It always does. What I’d like to know is, did Sutton behave like this at Orion? It shouldn’t be too hard for a journalist to follow up that line of inquiry.

  4. Now people know why the people of Christchurch say the earthquakes are nothing compared to dealing with the government and it’s nominated agency, CERA, in the decision making and recovery process. If it is not Key putting his foot in his mouth over EQ related issues that he absolutely has no idea on, it is Brownlee attacking and insulting anybody who shows him and his organisation in bad light. Then there is Roger, the man who many pinned their hopes on as the one man they could depend on to get in and get things done. Instead, he has disappointed all, by becoming the government’s favorite high paid sock puppet, pulled out whenever required to peddle the government’s latest lies and deceit. Roger Sutton – The 1/2 Million Dollar PR Man.

Comments are closed.