City of Saskatoon says 'many' Remai Modern employees told ombudsperson of workplace concerns

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The City of Saskatoon says "many" Remai Modern employees have voiced concerns about the art museum's workplace to the city's in-house ombudsperson.

CBC News has obtained a January 2019 email sent by the ombudsperson, Claudia Hemani, to employees of Remai Modern and its previous incarnation, Mendel Art Gallery.

Hemani sent the message on behalf of the city's top civil servant, city manager Jeff Jorgenson.

"Thank you again for bringing forward your concerns about various serious matters pertaining to the gallery," Jorgenson wrote.

"As you are likely aware, our ombudsperson has heard from many employees at the gallery and extensive follow-up has taken place as a result.

"The city is doing everything in its power to work with the [Remai board] to affect change. The board is obliged to provide a safe and healthy work environment and the city will do everything in its power to ensure that occurs."

On Thursday, Mayor Charlie Clark acknowledged in a statement to CBC News that, "there were [gallery] workplace concerns brought to the city that required attention."

"Because employees of the gallery are City of Saskatoon employees and the city has accountability for their safety and well-being, our civic administration began working with the board to address these concerns," Clark said. 

Jorgenson's message to gallery workers — which he confirmed to CBC News is genuine — is just one sign of recent or past behind-the-scenes difficulty at the city-owned museum.

CBC News also recently obtained an internal email showing the museum board received a report on the museum's workplace from both the ombudsperson and a hired coaching firm.

Meanwhile, seven out of 12 museum board members recently exited the board, with chair Scott Verity and fellow executive member Alison Norlen being forced out. 

• Outgoing Remai chair acknowledges workplace 'concerns' in email to staff
• 3 more Remai Modern board members leave their positions

Jorgenson, in a statement to CBC News, said his email was sent to employees who went to Hemani "with workplace concerns at the gallery."

The city learned of some of those concerns last summer, Jorgenson added.

At that point, "further reports and investigations were undertaken as a result and those reports were presented to the board," he said.

Remai Modern responds

In a statement to CBC News, Remai Modern said current board members have "taken an active role in ensuring a positive work environment at Remai Modern."

Those efforts including ongoing product conflict training sessions, as well as DiSC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness) training to help build better workplace relationships. The museum describes DiSC as "a non-judgement tool used for discussion of people's behavioural differences."

A new strategic plan also calls for respectful workplace training and team-building sessions.

"We will foster accountability at all levels of the organization and build a high-performing culture that supports, empowers, grows and rewards our people," the museum said in its statement.

CBC News has reached out to current members of the museum's board for comment. 

• Shakeup coming on Remai Modern board
• City council 'attempting to interfere' with Remai Modern vision, says ousted board member

Verity's term is about to end amidst a larger shakeup that saw seven of 12 publicly appointed members exit the board. Verity and co-executive board member Alison Norlen were asked not to return.

Norlen previously said city council had tried to interfere in the running of Remai Modern. Another departing board member said the relationship between the city and the board was "problematic."

Mayor Clark has previously declined to talk about the reasons behind the board shakeup, saying council's role is merely to appoint board members.

In his statement Thursday, Clark said, "Council is committed to a good working relationship with the board, addressing any outstanding issues and continuing to build a strong future for the gallery."

Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 59, the union branch that represents Remai Modern workers, said it wants full summaries of the investigation plus Hemani's report to the board.

"Should the city and the Remai board fail to appropriately address and resolve any complaint brought forward by a CUPE Local 59 member, we are committed to utilizing our grievance and arbitration processes to achieve a resolution," the union local said in a written statement. 

"The psychological and physical well being of workers is our primary concern. CUPE Local 59 stands behind its members."

City confident in reshuffled museum board

CBC News recently obtained an internal email showing the museum board received a report on the museum's workplace from both the ombudsperson and a hired coaching firm.

Board chair Scott Verity said Hemani's report was based on input she received. "The board appreciates the support of the ombudsman office in providing a safe and confidential place for our employees to share their concerns," Verity wrote.

The board "seriously considered [Hemani's] report and began the important work of bringing resolution to the concerns that have been raised." The email did not detail what those "concerns" were.

The second report, an "organizational assessment," was completed by Logia Consulting, which describes itself as "a leadership consulting and coaching company."

Logia's report included "recommendations for building a healthy workplace at Remai Modern," Verity said.

City manager Jeff Jorgenson, in his statement to CBC News, said the city "entrusts" the Remai Modern board "to ensure the gallery is providing a safe and healthy work environment."

"I am confident that the new board, with its returning and new members, will work collaboratively with the city to create a world-class work environment for staff at the gallery," Jorgenson said.

Some changes have already taken place at Remai, Verity previously told CBC News.

"One of the outcomes of the Logia report was a decision by the board to hire Ms. Carolyn Knaflec as interim director of human resources," he said.

That full-time position, which Verity called "essential," was approved by city councillors during 2019 budget debate last fall.  

"The appointment of Ms. Knaflec into the human resources role has been very beneficial to Remai Modern," said Verity. "She has been working closely with the board on human resources policies, processes and workplace."

A new chief operating officer, Celene Anger, also began work at Remai recently. Verity said the roles of CEO and COO will be split in the future so that the CEO handles artistic matters and the COO handles staff issues.

Verity also said the board has created a new human resources subcommittee. That committee will be chaired by Fatima Coovadia — one of the few current Remai Board members who will carry on after the board shakeup.

Staff departures

Remai Modern's 2017 annual report, which was publicly released in March 2018, featured a roster of the museum's 37 full-time staff members.

A current and a former Remai employee have both confirmed that 15 of those 37 no longer work at the museum, although two of the 15 were contract workers whose terms had expired. 

"It feels like every time you turn around, somebody else is leaving the organization," said a current Remai Modern employee who spoke to CBC News confidentially.

"There have to be costs associated with the recruitment and downtime. It takes people months and months before they get up to speed."

Remai Modern declined to directly address the reasons for the staff turnover or its associated costs.  

"Remai Modern doesn't comment on internal personnel matters for privacy reasons," the organization said. "In general, staff changeover at a new organization isn't uncommon.

"As we work to define the culture at Remai Modern and learn about what the museum needs to succeed from a staffing, programmatic and operational standpoint, the organization will evolve."