Bombshell: Channel 7 Reporter Stood Down Over Mental Health Concerns After Exposing Network’s Alleged Wage Theft
- A senior Channel 7 reporter has been stood down over mental health concerns after speaking out about alleged wage theft within the network
- The journalist, who has three young children, was allegedly forced to endure a mental health assessment with a Seven-appointed psychiatrist before being allowed to return to work
- The move has sparked outrage among staff, with many accusing the network of bullying and intimidation tactics to silence whistle-blowers
A Channel 7 reporter has been stood down over mental health concerns, just days after exposing the network’s alleged wage theft in a explosive class-action lawsuit. The senior on-air reporter was placed on enforced leave from the Melbourne newsroom, with Seven claiming they were ‘concerned about her welfare’.
But insiders have revealed that the journalist’s actions, including parking in the wrong staff spot during a weekend shift and questioning colleagues about their experiences at the network, were blown out of proportion to justify the stand down. The reporter even joked ‘Everyone thinks I’m crazy’ after advocating for higher wages during a union meeting.
The drama unfolded as employment litigation firm Adero Law investigates a class action over two major claims against Seven West Media, which owns the Seven Network. The law firm has spoken to more than 20 current and former Seven staff and requested several personnel files, with many accusing the network of underpaying staff, misclassifying roles, denying paid breaks, and failing to compensate overtime hours.
The first claim under investigation will focus on allegations that Seven paid some of its experienced journalists and producers a ‘Level Five’ salary, just one rung above cadet or entry-level journalists. The base rate for a Level Five employee was between $55,100 and $65,500, plus extra loading if the person works enough hours — as agreed on in the enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) settled in 2022.
A spokeswoman for Seven West said the company rejected the accusations, but the controversy is far from over. As one staffer told Daily Mail Australia, ‘This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more stories like this waiting to be told.’
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