Big Four toxic culture claims: KMPG employee says she was made redundant after reporting bullying

An employee at one of the world’s largest accounting firms claims she was fired after reporting harassment and harassment to management.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that more allegations have surfaced about the toxic culture within the Big Four accounting firms – just months after an EY employee in Sydney committed suicide following complaints of bullying and racism at work.

Under conditions of anonymity, a 35-year-old woman now claims she was subject to harassment by her colleagues within months of being hired as a manager in KPMG’s engineering department in the company’s Sydney office last August.

She says she was harassed by her colleagues, who isolated her from work projects and made disparaging comments about her physical appearance.

The woman claims she complained to KPMG’s administration team in February and was told her allegations would be investigated while she was away on two weeks of annual leave already scheduled.

However, when she returned to work on March 7, she was told she had been fired and would have to leave the next day.

‘I had a panic attack. I was shaking, my head went blank,” she told Daily Mail Australia.

“It was the first day I came back, I expected justice, support.

‘I was so surprised. I felt suicidal.’

When the woman asked why she was only given one day’s notice, she was told that her position was no longer needed while on leave.

She said staff also told her they had interviewed employees but found nothing to back up her allegations of bullying.

Under KPMG policy, dismissed employees may apply to be selected for another position within the company.

The woman said she submitted her resume to the HR team that afternoon for another position, only to be told three days later that her skills were unsuitable. Because the application delayed the dismissal process, her employment was terminated on March 13.

The woman said she was shocked when she was pushed back for the position, as an email from the company circulating around the same time indicated that her skills were in high demand.

Her contract required KPMG to give her four weeks’ notice or pay her instead if the notice was shorter.

A woman (pictured) claims she was fired from KPMG after filing complaints of bullying and harassment

The woman claims she was told the company would look into her report while she was on leave, only to return and be told to leave the following day. Pictured: KPMG’s Sydney office

She received a memorandum of discharge offering her $11,834.32 in lieu of notice and $13,076 conditional severance pay should she sign a redundancy contract.

However, she would not be entitled to claims through the Fair Work Commission or anti-discrimination laws.

The woman says she had access to counseling through KPMG since January because of anxiety.

When she was fired, she said KPMG offered her access to support services, but when she tried to use them, she was disappointed to find she only sent a number to a helpline.

She now plans to take legal action and has reported the matter to Fair Work and SafeWork NSW.

“Nobody cares about your mental state,” she said.

A KPMG spokesperson said the company has made some layoffs in parts of the company where customer demand has declined.

“Like many companies, uncertain market conditions mean we are looking at our costs across the company,” the spokesperson said.

“All employees whose roles were impacted by layoffs were given access to our EAP and outplacement support.

Aishwarya Venkatachalam, 27, (pictured left) took her own life at Ernst & Young’s Sydney office in August after complaining of bullying and racism

“While it would be inappropriate to comment on individual employees, I can confirm that all complaints submitted are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated, including this issue.”

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Fair Work and SafeWork NSW for comment.

The allegations in question come after Indian national Aishwarya Venkatachalam, 27, committed suicide at the Sydney office of Ernst & Young (now known as EY) last August after complaining of bullying and racism.

Three Good Samaritans reported comforting Ms. Ventakachalam in a parking lot as she “cry her eyes out” after leaving a work party at the nearby Ivy nightclub.

A little later she went back to work and committed suicide.

EY then launched an investigation into the company’s work culture after Daily Mail Australia revealed that Ms Ventakachalam had reported to friends that she suffered from bullying and racism.

The review – which former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick will conduct from February to June 2023 – will examine “the mental health impact of bullying, sexual harassment, racism and high operational pace” at the company.

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