Culture | Lord of the Rings firm at centre of 'toxic' work scandal

Toxic workplaces are something many HR leaders have had to face, often due to claims of bullying among colleagues or sexual harassment.

One organisation that has launched an independent investigation following allegations of a toxic culture is Weta Digital, the special effects firm that was co-founded by Lord of the Rings trilogy Director, Peter Jackson.

Claims of sexism, bullying and pornography being shared on the company’s intranet have been raised. As a result, an investigation has been ordered by the firm’s majority owners, including Jackson, his wife Fran Welsh and screenwriter Phillipa Boyens, reported the Guardian.

This follows a month-long investigation by local television station TVNZ, which found that complaints had been ignored by senior management and long-standing issues raised by employees had been covered up.