The former journalist and star presenter of Téléjournal published a letter in the pages of the daily newspaper on Wednesday morning The sun (New window) to which she returns his departure from Radio-Canada was announced on August 5 after several months abstinence from the ether.

In her letter, Pascale Nadeau says that Radio-Canada received an anonymous denunciation about a year ago Remarks related to [son] work and [ses] functions.

As required by Canada’s Labor Code, upon receipt of the complaint, an outside firm was commissioned to investigate and prepare a report. This lengthy investigation, the report of which I was never allowed to read except for two small excerpts, came to nothing except for unsubstantiated or “partially substantiated” allegations.writes Pascale Nadeau.

After 33 years […] I was not entitled to a call from my management to ask if there was any truth to these false allegationsshe said too.

The former head of antennas is currently unable to provide any further information because she is sworn to secrecy. She announced that she was suspended for a month without pay and she filed a complaint against this sanction. Arbitration must take place.

A woman Challenging

I am not perfect. I have character and I can have moments of impatience, she said in her letter. The privilege of being a news anchor requires a lot of discipline. I therefore place very high demands on myself and certainly also on the people in my team.

I’m not a case study. I don’t know of any newscaster who behaves differentlyShe added.

Pascale Nadeau reiterates that it’s this whole story that did it made sick and resulted in her being absent from the public broadcaster, not her parents’ deaths, which occurred within weeks of 2019.

Radio-Canada attacked my integrity with this investigation, she also wrote in her letter. All I asked in order to get back to work was a simple apology and the removal of this stain from my record. Nothing more. But Radio-Canada makes no apologies.

Radio Canada gives its version

On Wednesday afternoon, in an interview with several journalists, Luce Julien, Director General of Information at Radio-Canada, stressed that it was Pascale Nadeau who wrote to Radio-Canada to express her desire to retire.

Pascale’s departure is neither a termination nor a constructive termination and even less age discriminationshe insisted.

If I didn’t want something, it happens today. I absolutely didn’t want Pascale not to get back on the air [après son congé de maladie]she said and thought to herself very sorry for this situation .

It’s an extremely difficult decision. Don’t think it’s a witch huntshe added, indicating that she appreciates Ms. Nadeau very much.

The chief information officer defends her decision: I would have failed in my duties as a manager if I had ignored the report’s conclusions.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, Radio-Canada senior vice president Michel Bissonnette said he had considered the implications of the decisions for all those affected.

These are not easy cases to handle as it is primarily about people. If there is a need for action based on the test results, this is carefully checked and determined in consultation with several people.he said.

protect personnel

Pascale Nadeau claims Radio-Canada refused to apologize to her, which Luce Julien acknowledges.

respect the process [d’enquête] and collaborators involved in this process, I could not erase everything, but I was willing to accompany him on his return [de congé maladie]she argued.

Due to the confidential nature of the investigation process, Radio-Canada did not provide details of the content of the complaint and the conclusions of the investigation. Unless there has been a breach of confidentiality, these details will not be made public later.

This confidentiality is intended to protect the reputation of the individual complained of, but also to allow employees to speak up in confidence without the risk of retaliation. Additionally, Luce assures Julien that she does not know the names of those involved in the investigation.

It is up to the investigator, not me, to use her expertise to judge whether [le comportement dénoncé] is part of the behavior that may or may not be considered inappropriateshe clarified.

Radio-Canada also notes that the complaint will be filed confidential but not anonymous and that several people may be involved in the same complaint.

Such investigations are entrusted by the human resources department to external investigators who are recognized as experts and are neutral. They include in-depth interviews with the main people involved, but also with witnesses proposed by both parties. The person who is the subject of the complaint may be questioned last, in order to have an opportunity to respond to new allegations that have arisen during the proceedings.explained Michel Bissonnette.

Zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior

In an interview, Luce Julien also insisted on emphasizing the importance given to zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior.

But it is really important to me that all information workers work in a healthy atmosphereShe said.

In her letter, Pascale Nadeau mentions the challenges she faced: stress, no room for error and less experienced resources to work on weekends, etc.

Our store managers are under incredible pressure, but they are also team leaders,” said Luce Julien. The question of a healthy and calm climate at Radio-Canada, I’ve talked about that many times.

It cannot be said that employees are unaware of the Code of Conductshe stressed.

An opinion shared by Michel Bissonnette. We have established numerous policies, procedures, training and resources to address our employees’ concerns and resolve issues related to harassment, bullying or other inappropriate behavior in the workplace.

The union denounces a punitive action

On the part of the Syndicat des Communications de Radio-Canada, to which Pascale Nadeau belongs, President Pierre Tousignant cannot comment on the content of the dispute.

It’s possible that offensive, derogatory and unacceptable comments were made, but where were the managers? he asks. Managers are used in particular to manage friction.

He notes that managers and other employees are treated differently when complaints of harassment or intimidation are made and investigations of this type are entrusted to outside firms.

When it comes to a leader, the leader turns snow white, but not when it comes to an employeehe observes.

As station manager, Pascale Nadeau was not a leader of the organization.

Luce Julien and Stéphanie Peiller, Radio-Canada’s director of human resources, dispute this perception of Pierre Tousignant. Pascale Nadeau’s case is not unique. Several executives lost their jobs, but they were not well-known figuresexplains Luce Julien.

As a union representative, Pierre Tousignant has no knowledge of non-union files [que sont les cadres]adds Stephanie Peiller.

Pierre Tousignant admits that in the last two years, after investigating complaints, he has also noticed an increase in sanctions and an aggravation of reprimands.

According to him, Radio-Canada takes precedence in resolving disputes within its workforce it does not work. I want us to find ways to resolve disputes other than the punitive approachhe says.

Mediation was not an issue at Radio-Canada last fall, but since January, consideration of mediation before opening an external investigation has been part of the process.

Do the employees [impliqués] would have consented to arbitration? Arbitration does not apply to all cases. I understand the union’s point of view, but frankly [dans le cas de Pascale Nadeau]it wouldn’t have made any differencebelieves Luce Julien.