Since the #MeToo movement began gained momentum in Hollywood back in 2017, entertainment workers have voiced concerns about how to safely report harassment, bullying and workplace abuse.
Now, the Hollywood Commission, the advocacy organization chaired by Anita Hill, has launched MyConnext, a secure, all-in-one online tool, resource center and reporting system for entertainment industry workers. The tool allows workers to explore their options when confronting harassment, bullying or any type of workplace abuse by providing them with resources, as well as the impartial guidance of an ombudsperson who can help them choose their own paths.
The system is the Hollywood Commission’s direct response to concerns raised by more than 10,000 industry workers in the Commission’s 2019-20 survey and confirmed by the 2022-23 survey. In the first survey, 95% of workers asked for resources to help them understand reporting, 94% asked for a helpline or hotline and 93% asked for technology to create a timestamped record. In its 2022-23 survey, 90% of respondents asked for technology to create a timestamped record and 92% said resources to better understand reporting would be helpful.
Through MyConnext, users can create a timestamped personal record of their experience, ask questions about policies, procedures and how to report through a safe and anonymous messaging function, securely report workplace misconduct, make an anonymous report and use the “hold for match” feature. “Hold for match” allows workers to submit an anonymous report that is held securely in the tool, pending a second report by another user. When another person submits a report against the same individual – making a “match” – both reports are released to the users’ designated organization.
MyConnext does not replace any reporting options provided by an employer, union or guild. Instead, using MyConnext, each worker can control their unique path and decides whether to submit a report through the tool to their company, union or guild, using their existing investigatory processes.
The participating organizations at launch include the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America, specified U.S.-based Amazon productions; all U.S.-based Netflix productions and The Kennedy/Marshall Company. Members of SAG-AFTRA can also access their Safe Place reporting tool through MyConnext.
While MyConnext is funded by the Hollywood Commission, it is also completely independent of the Commission. MyConnext is led by its management committee: Andria Wilson Mirza, Dr. Louise Fitzgerald and Wokie Nwabueze.
While the MyConnext reporting tool and ombuds are available only to participating organizations, MyConnext also offers several resources available to everyone, including information on how to address & report concerns, mandatory arbitration and non-disclosure agreements, answers to frequently asked questions about workers’ rights and reporting options, helpful definitions, information on helplines and more at MyConnext.org.
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