Clarkson suspended by the BBC, TG taken off air.

On the BBC Breakfast show this morning they dragged out some smarmy 'Employment Lawyer' who went on about discipline procedures, due process and all the other HR crap that was being applied to Clarkson by the Beeb. They then had a former TV CEO who had worked for the Beeb and commercial channels, who immediately stated there is no employment contract between the BBC and JC. The lawyer was lost for a reply.

Lazy journalism, lazy reporting and lazy senior BBC management who themselves should face the sack for blatant incompetence.
 
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Just because you're a freelance contractor doesn't mean you get to slap your coworkers around a bit. The BBC still has a duty of care to those in its 'employment' (including contractors on assignment). If they'd pulled their finger out and done the investigation a bit quicker, they could have killed this story days ago. One can only speculate why they haven't.
 
KEEFYP said:
On the BBC Breakfast show this morning they dragged out some smarmy 'Employment Lawyer' who went on about discipline procedures, due process and all the other HR crap that was being applied to Clarkson by the Beeb. They then had a former TV CEO who had worked for the Beeb and commercial channels, who immediately stated there is no employment contract between the BBC and JC. The lawyer was lost for a reply.
.
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Somewhere there is a contract of some description.
He doesn't simply "rock up" to the beeb for work on an ad hoc basis, nor would he be facing any disciplinary action (including the current suspension) without one.
So "smarmy " lawyer, and "former CEO" are possibly both talking out of the old chocolate whizway.
 
Llamaman said:
Just because you're a freelance contractor doesn't mean you get to slap your coworkers around a bit. The BBC still has a duty of care to those in its 'employment' (including contractors on assignment). If they'd pulled their finger out and done the investigation a bit quicker, they could have killed this story days ago. One can only speculate why they haven't.
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I thought it was already established that he didn't slap anyone.
 
I presume his contract / contractor relationship will be with whichever production company makes TG .. i doubt this is the beeb itself
 
big soft moose said:
I presume his contract / contractor relationship will be with whichever production company makes TG .. i doubt this is the beeb itself
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It's also likely that he doesn't contract directly with the production company, but through a personal services company. And I'd expect his image rights to be handled seperately as well.
If I recall correctly, he lives in Jersey, so much scope for cunning tax wheezes if he were so inclined.
 
Byker28i said:
Back to the story, I cannot believe a senior bbc manager has compared clarkson to saville. Is this the bbc trying to fight back for public opinion, but missing the point completely again?
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I would seem so, I presume when they saw they were losing the PR war they took some bad advice from someone as to how to try change public opinion.
 
Llamaman said:
It's also likely that he doesn't contract directly with the production company, but through a personal services company. And I'd expect his image rights to be handled seperately as well.
If I recall correctly, he lives in Jersey, so much scope for cunning tax wheezes if he were so inclined.
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JC? Has a flat in London, a big house in Chipping Norton and did own one of the lighthouses on the Isle of Man
 
Dave1 said:
Why? That's the level he appears to be working on, I thought it would be a completely appropriate book for him...
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Jeez, you really are a child aren't you. Found that statute yet? No, thought not. It's simple really Dave, even you can manage it, you've said something, and I think you're wrong.show me why you're right. Can't? Then bow out like a big boy. Instead of the petty insults. Anyway I'm out of here
 
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Dave1 said:
Why? That's the level he appears to be working on, I thought it would be a completely appropriate book for him...
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Oh dear....woooooosh!
 
fracster said:
Does it really matter?
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No, it doesn't, for some bizarre reason he's taken the comment as an insult to Scotland and so has gone all passive aggressive tantrum mode :runaway:.

I'll be ignoring him for here in...
 
Dave1 said:
No, it doesn't, for some bizarre reason he's taken the comment as an insult to Scotland and so has gone all passive aggressive tantrum mode :runaway:.

I'll be ignoring him for here in...
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:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: Sure you will ;)
 
Dave1 said:
No, it doesn't, for some bizarre reason he's taken the comment as an insult to Scotland and so has gone all passive aggressive tantrum mode :runaway:.

I'll be ignoring him for here in...
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He's the cat's dad. No tantrum and no offence either :) wondering why you keep alluding to me and Scotland though? Only every been there once. It gets too cold north of junction 19 m1
 
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I didn`t mean the little disagreements. Why 10 pages about some bloody TV presenter.
 
boyfalldown said:
He's the cat's dad. No tantrum and no offence either :) wondering why you keep alluding to me and Scotland though? Only every been there once. It gets too cold north of junction 19 m1
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Oye....junction 25 thank you very much lol
 
Dave1 said:
I would seem so, I presume when they saw they were losing the PR war they took some bad advice from someone as to how to try change public opinion.
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Its not a PR war, Clarkson at the very least verbally abused a work colleague. Most people would not find that acceptable in any environment let alone a working one, would you be?
 
All this drama when very few people actually know the full details ( myself included) It's funny that a lot of people are saying that it's wrong to defend someone being aggressive in the workplace when Gordon Ramsay's made his TV career out of it yet nobody is baying for his job/blood :0)
 
viv1969 said:
Oh god...you're not going to burst into song, are you? ;)
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when one knows one is crap at something, one should not do it. I don't play golf, I don't dance and certainly do not sing....:-)
 
jakeblu said:
Its not a PR war, Clarkson at the very least verbally abused a work colleague. Most people would not find that acceptable in any environment let alone a working one, would you be?
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No, but the truth should hopefully come out at the enquiry. The PR "war" definitely exists and the Reinstate Clarkson petition shows the public mood and perception of how the BBC is handling the matter (930,000+ Signatories, expected to top the million soon).

The whole incident should have been handled confidentially in house and only once all facts were established made the findings public. To start comparing one of their big money earners to Saville shows either a desperation to change public perception or an extremely deep seated hatred of Clarkson at a high level within the BBC.
 
fracster said:
when one knows one is crap at something, one should not do it. I don't play golf, I don't dance and certainly do not sing....:)
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You're a good boy. I don't care what anyone says lol ;)
 
Llamaman said:
Just because you're a freelance contractor doesn't mean you get to slap your coworkers around a bit. The BBC still has a duty of care to those in its 'employment' (including contractors on assignment). If they'd pulled their finger out and done the investigation a bit quicker, they could have killed this story days ago. One can only speculate why they haven't.
Click to expand...

viv1969 said:
Somewhere there is a contract of some description.
He doesn't simply "rock up" to the beeb for work on an ad hoc basis, nor would he be facing any disciplinary action (including the current suspension) without one.
So "smarmy " lawyer, and "former CEO" are possibly both talking out of the old chocolate whizway.
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Yes, there will be a contract. It will be a protracted chain of contract and sub contract for services and goods i.e. the output for the TV transmission. It will not be an employment contract. Therefore employment contract law is not applicable. It's not just the Beeb who operate this way, lots of companies do in the false belief they can save money in not 'employing' people.

There is sufficient information in the public domain, put out by the Beeb on their news web site alone, for example, to cause them considerable loss should JC be so minded. Very messy and unnecessary and blatant incompetence on the part of the Beeb. But then it's only licence payers money in the main.

The producers tweets state there was no physical contact. After his lawyer stating there will be no comment from him until the investigation has concluded. Weasel words.

The actual facts are currently unknown, and in all probability will not be disclosed at any point soon.

As much as the Beeb has a duty of care to those in it's employment, it's registered officers have a legal duty to protect it from losses due to incompetence. They are the ones who should be facing disciplinary procedures, if any one.

I maintain this whole episode is part of the game to get JC laughing all the way to the bank.
 
If Mr Clarkson decides to sue the BBC who will pick up the tab? Licence payers of course

All these lawyers, who picks up the tab? Licence payers of course

Because of the unique way the BBC is funded it can employ incompetent management who are able to make mistakes costing thousands but thats ok because it's not their money.

The licence fee wants scrapping and BBC TV can become a subscription based service, the radio can run ads like all the other commercial rubbish.
 
jakeblu said:
Its not a PR war, Clarkson at the very least verbally abused a work colleague. Most people would not find that acceptable in any environment let alone a working one, would you be?
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stevelmx5 said:
All this drama when very few people actually know the full details ( myself included) It's funny that a lot of people are saying that it's wrong to defend someone being aggressive in the workplace when Gordon Ramsay's made his TV career out of it yet nobody is baying for his job/blood :0)
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Jakeblu, I guess has not worked in a stresssful occupation, nor in media. certain things at certain times are accepted practice. Not necessary productive but accepted that these things happen occasionally. Generally you'll find people will either make up or move on. As this producer has worked for Top Gear for ten years I'd guess he's seen the best and worse side of the business and talent.

Is it not acceptable behaviour? Of course not, but people get irate, say the wrong things when angry, make silly decisions, that's human nature. It's how the apology and future actions are handled that matter. In this case, the BBC Senior Management have over reacted, and there's a touch of personal vendetta in it also.

The trouble all basically dates back to the Hutton enquiry, the resignations of the chairman and director general and the humiliating apology by the BBC to Bliars government. Whilst others were calling whitewash, the BBC fell on it's own sword and has effectively been neutered since. Appointments have reinforced the PC and safeness of the BBC, for the good of the continuation of the business. Since Saville, this has gone into overdrive
 
Byker28i said:
Jakeblu, I guess has not worked in a stresssful occupation, nor in media. certain things at certain times are accepted practice. Not necessary productive but accepted that these things happen occasionally. Generally you'll find people will either make up or move on. As this producer has worked for Top Gear for ten years I'd guess he's seen the best and worse side of the business and talent.
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Jakeblu has worked in plenty of stressful positions, was an anti-social behaviour officer for 10 years and was one of the lead officers in the first multi-asbo in the country. Try serving papers on drug dealers who have no respect for the law and then talk to me about stress. Ive also worked in construction, as a time served electrician. If you think any level of verbal abuse from a work colleague is acceptable then more fool you, personal I wouldn't stand for it.
 
I knew it would be Tiff and Vicky.
 
Who?
 
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