BBC Urges Staff to Avoid 'Mate' and 'Sweetheart' in New Inclusion Training

The BBC has implemented new guidelines banning staff from using terms of endearment such as 'mate', 'sweetheart', 'silver fox', and 'babe' as part of efforts to create a more welcoming and safe workplace following a series of bad behavior scandals. Staff are required to complete a Screen Skills training 'passport' annually, which includes modules on tackling harassment, bullying, and microaggressions, and involves a multiple-choice quiz. The training discourages making comments on accents, curly hair, or interrupting colleagues, as these can be perceived as indirect expressions of bias. Employees have expressed frustration, describing the measures as "enforced speech" and feeling the need to tread carefully on topics related to race, gender, and preferred pronouns, especially with an increasing number of LGBTQ+ staff. The BBC encourages reading books on race, including "White Fragility" and "Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race," to promote understanding. The corporation denies that the training is mandatory for all staff, clarifying that it is a pilot program primarily for freelancers and is under industry review.