大象传媒

The allegations about Gregg Wallace鈥檚 behaviour on set have been described as being part of a "toxic environment". Once primarily used in the domain of plants, arrows and chemicals, 鈥渢oxic鈥� - which is defined as 鈥減oisonous鈥� 鈥� only relatively recently started being applied to workplaces and people: parents, siblings, neighbours, exes and co-workers.

Those who have experienced a toxic work culture or colleague might describe a deterioration in their personal and professional well-being 鈥� the causes of which may be difficult to define 鈥� or prove 鈥� on their own. While sexual harassment, racism, and bullying should be clearly understood, a toxic environment may involve more subtle things at play: a lack of trust, favouritism, unrealistic expectations or an atmosphere of negativity.

But what are we to make of a concept which hinges on how an aggrieved person feels rather than the defined behaviour of the perpetrator? Is it an important redress for those who have for too long suffered in silence 鈥� or an over-compensation which irredeemably labels the wrongdoers? What should 鈥� and shouldn鈥檛 鈥� we be prepared to accept in a workplace or in a relationship? If a boss sets a negative tone in an office, due to their own pressures and stresses, does that make them 鈥渢oxic鈥�? When does an off-colour joke become 鈥渢oxic鈥�? Is it possible to detoxify cultures like the entertainment industry, which thrives on the egos of the 鈥渢alent鈥�? And when is it OK to cut off a 鈥渢oxic鈥� relative?

Chair: Michael Buerk
Panel: Sonia Sodha, Konstantin Kisin, Matthew Taylor and Anne McElvoy
Witnesses: Ben Askins, Joanna Williams, Becca Bland and Donald Robertson.

Producer: Dan Tierney
Assistant producer: Ruth Purser
Editor: Tim Pemberton