1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Corporate culture means the norms, values, and policies that determine how employees perceive things and behave in the workplace, as well as how they feel about themselves and others. Culture has a direct impact on brand equity, customer trust, and business performance because it reflects on daily business activities.
The BBC is a unique international organization but there seems to be confusion about who oversees its culture (Usherwood & Usherwood, 2021). Examples of poor crisis management at BBC establishments, specifically in Nigeria indicate there are gaps in the leadership structure—such as bureaucratic checks and balances—that do not support responsibility, fairness, and accountability. Since the BBC commenced business operations in Nigeria more than six decades ago, its reputation as a frontline media house has not been debatable. Its culturally competent recruitment policy that empowered local talents to embrace ethical journalism many years ago made enormous impact on Nigeria’s development as a nation. BBC’s investigative journalism has also produced highly engaging contents on “Sweet, Sweet Codeine” and “Sex for Grades” among others that spurred governmental interventions in corporate governance issues. Although many BBC employees left for studies in other countries, there are many victims of workplace bullying who resigned to preserve their wellbeing from toxic managers. These victims allege that BBC culture in Nigeria supports bullying, victimization, and harassment because no one does anything to stop the ugly trend. Moreover, the influential media organization has no anonymous reporting channel that could have exposed these wrongdoings and hold offenders responsible for their actions. In 2020, a BBC journalist behind the “sex-for-grade” exposé attempted suicide over claims that her award-winning investigation was deliberately credited to someone else. Such unfair and unethical action perpetrated by top executives saddled with the responsibility of implementing policies show they are either not part of the decision-making process or there exists a far-reaching culture that promotes bad corporate governance (that is, unprofessional and discreditable attitudes) at BBC Nigeria (Ertem-Eray, 2021).
On the contrary, managers at BBC UK understand that workers are more confident about quitting their jobs these days because finding another placement is not difficult (Usherwood & Usherwood, 2021). Moreover, skilled workers are in high demand, and they prefer organizations with a family-friendly corporate culture. But the management disposition has not erased the remarkable ineptitude towards a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of discrimination or harassment. BBC UK also has issues in the areas of crisis management, ethics, compliance, and implementation of HR policies (Tkachenko et al, 2022). According to data obtained via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), The Times disclosed that BBC UK partially or fully retained thirty-three out of one hundred and fifty-four employees proven to have engaged in workplace bullying and harassment between 2020 and 2022. Only one employee was fired after an internal investigation. Some of the complaints were also withdrawn due to internal pressure which supports claim by The Times that BBC leadership does not offer adequate protection for whistle-blowers. One of the victims alleged that BBC executives are more concerned with protecting their image that employees’ wellbeing. This is a major culture issue that can trigger a record-high level of employee turnover if ignored. Notwithstanding, the media organization has a standardized salary structure, fair reward system, and other benefits that motivate and inspire its workforce to achieve sustainable goals (Usherwood & Usherwood, 2021).
In a world where mental health issues have become a key challenge to employee productivity, every organization is expected to adopt a culture that makes workers feel respected, supported, and satisfied. It is unacceptable for managers or subordinates to be harsh, hostile, or aggressive no matter the circumstance. When bosses turn to workplace bullies, they create a toxic culture where anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem become an identity thereby leading to high employee turnover. Thus, from a management perspective, workplace culture is a complex issue due to the cultural mix of workforces that are often contradictory and widely misunderstood. But unethical behaviours from managers, including the predisposition to create a hostile workplace environment and abuse workers certainly puts the BBC at risk. (Möller et al, 2022; Mozaffan et al, 2022). Bad workplace culture has a negative impact on employees’ mental, emotional, and psychological wellbeing; it also reflects on their engagement, productivity, and turnover rates, so jobseekers are not only looking for high-paying jobs but companies offering better compensations, work-life balance, adequate benefits, career advancement opportunities, and possibilities of a career change (Möller et al, 2022). Therefore, the author will review relevant literatures on corporate culture and turnover in global media organizations, and use the knowledge gained from both primary and secondary sources to scrutinize the culture performance of BBC organizations in the UK and Nigeria.
1.2 THE COMPANY
As part of its global expansion strategy since 1940s, BBC World Service under Jamie Angus (Director) launched a digital drive to establish more language services across the African continent. Headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, the broadcasting corporation operates language services in pidgin, Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa. All digital platforms are regionally characterised to meet the needs of various geo-political zone in the country. The British multinational has a workforce comprising more than one hundred individuals who implement humanitarian and non-partisan projects to improve governance, health, resilience, and inclusion of marginalized groups such as women, girls, youth, and disabled persons in Nigeria. It also has programme for engaging and inspiring Nigerian youth to change their perception of leadership and empower them to play active roles in governance. Key partners in the BBC Nigeria project are the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ActionAid, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office among others. In collaboration with UNICEF, BBC Nigeria has successfully debunked health-related myths in Northern Nigeria about the benefits and risks of contraceptives, child marriage, and polio immunization. Other educative programme implemented to save more lives include radio shows about pneumonia, diarrhoea, stigma against people with HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This research is systematically designed to answer the following questions:
- Does power culture among managers affect corporate values?
- Does organizational culture determine the rate of employee turnover?
- Why are BBC Nigeria employees leaving the organization?
- What measures can BBC Nigeria executives take to boost employee attraction, retention, and engagement?
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