Seven West human resources policies "stress tested" and "fine" in wake of Amber Harrison scandal says Tim Worner

Seven West Media chief executive Tim Worner says the company’s human resources policies have been “stress tested” after reputational fallout from his ill-fated affair with former executive assistant Amber Harrison.

In response to questions from the ABC, Mr Worner added that the network’s policies were “fine” despite allegations that the network mishandled sexual harassment allegations by Seven cadet journalist Amy Taeuber who was sacked last year after making an official complaint.

“I think that we’ve definitely stress tested our human resources policies but actually we found that they were fine,” Mr Worner said.

“We’ve undertaken a little more work in terms of making sure that our people know what the rules are. Certainly, in the last six months we’ve undertaken a fair bit of work in that regard.

“But in terms of your question pointing to some sort of deficiency I think that is wrong.”

Asked if he was confident all necessary steps have been taken to ensure all Seven staff were treated properly, Mr Worner replied told the ABC “that’s correct”.

Mr Worner was briefly quizzed on Seven’s handling of complaints in the wake of the Amber Harrison scandal after revealing a surge in half year net profit to $101.7 million.

Seven won orders against Ms Harrison last July to ensure she complied with a confidentiality deal that prevented her from revealing confidential documents gained during her employment with the network and her affair with Mr Worner.

The company’s human resources policies were also in the spotlight last September after cadet journalist Amy Taeuer claimed she was dismissed from Seven’s Adelaide newsroom after complaining about sexual harassment by a male colleague.

Seven’s half year profit turnaround to $101.7 million from $12.4 million in the previous correspondent period comes after significant cost cutting and a decision to temporarily suspend its dividend to shareholders.

Seven West Media shares rocketed on the profit result and ended the day 18.6 percent higher at 60 cents a share.