A private law firm is investigating internal human resources practices at Toronto Community Housing Corp. after several complaints were filed with the city’s ombudsman.

One current manager and five former employees who spoke to the Star described a corporation plagued by a “culture of fear” that has left employees feeling bullied, harassed and terrified amid a slew of recent firings.

They said the investigation, which both the ombudsman and TCHC have confirmed, is long overdue. No one the Star spoke to would agree to have their names published for fear of retribution.

Toronto Community Housing CEO Kathy Milsom, who took up the post in the fall, said the agency was made aware of concerns brought to ombudsman Susan Opler in mid-December. Milsom said they were given the opportunity to do their own investigation.

“I haven’t heard one substantiated concern yet in terms of our human resources practices that has been brought to me,” Milsom said in an interview.

“However, we’re obviously undertaking the investigation to ensure that if there is anything else that we haven’t yet addressed, that we have the opportunity to do so expediently and appropriately,” she said.

Revelations of inner turmoil and a renewed investigation at TCHC come less than four years after then city ombudsman Fiona Crean released a scathing report on human resources practices and policies, describing a “climate of fear” at the housing agency.

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That report led to the ouster of CEO Gene Jones after Crean and her team discovered an “alarming tale of senior executives ignoring policy and running an organization as though it were their own personal fiefdom.”

Those who spoke to the Star say little has changed.

“You’re bullied, you’re harassed, you’re intimidated,” said a current manager with the corporation. “It’s just unbelievable to say that this is a municipal agency.”

TCH is the largest landlord in Canada, housing 110,000 tenants across more than 2,100 buildings and representing $9 billion in public assets overseen by 1,600 employees.

In the past year, there have been several firings of senior managers.

Those who spoke to the Star described managers who wield inordinate power, favouritism in hirings and promotions, a lack of accountability in the human resources department, a fear of complaining to human resources because they would be investigating themselves, and targeting of those who question human resources and other processes.

A former manager told the Star: “People are afraid of HR. If they don’t like you, then you’re done. Totally vindictive. People are leaving because of the fear.”

“Policies are doormats that people walk on there. It’s all on who you know,” said another former employee.

Earlier, the Star reported that TCHC’s former general counsel, Mark Johnson, had filed a wrongful dismissal case against the corporation. In a statement of claim, Johnson said that he was fired shortly after setting up an outside investigation of an internal complaint lodged against human resources.

TCHC, in a statement of defence, said Johnson “abandoned his employment.”

The Star found three other lawsuits in the court system in which former employees are claiming to have been wrongfully dismissed.

None of those claims has been proven in court. In all the files accessed by the Star, statements of defence filed by TCHC deny any wrongdoing.

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Milsom said creating a positive environment has been a priority.

“To me, one of the most important things is having a very positive work environment, a culture of fairness, respect and integrity for our employees, because ultimately if we want to succeed at being tenant-centric and responsive, it all comes down to our team,” she said. Milsom said she believes all of the ombudsman’s recommendations in the 2014 report have been acted on.

“From my point of view, I’m doing everything I believe is appropriate to continue to improve the culture.”

On Jan. 17, staff learned through a company-wide email that chief operating officer Wayne Tuck, who had been with the corporation for almost two years, had left TCHC.

An email from Milsom to employees said Tuck had “decided to leave the organization, effective Jan. 31,” and that she would be taking over the COO role. Speaking to the Star, Milsom said she couldn’t provide any more information because it was an employment matter. Tuck could not be reached for comment.

Six months ago, Tuck posted on his public LinkedIn profile that he had accepted the permanent COO role.

“The opportunity to continue to work with a great team of committed and dedicated professionals and tenants — who are focused on positive change for our organization — is a tremendous privilege,” he wrote.

A letter sent on Dec. 21 from the law firm Rubin Thomlinson LLP to the ombudsman confirmed it had been retained to conduct an investigation into the housing corporation’s “human resources practices.”

The letter, obtained by the Star, was to confirm that the law firm would maintain the confidentiality of all people who had previously been contacted by the ombudsman’s office.

The employment law firm conducted the internal third-party investigation into former CBC host Jian Ghomeshi in 2015, which found evidence of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behaviour.

Late last year, the ombudsman, Opler, confirmed to the Star that her office was following up on the investigation carried out by her predecessor that found TCHC was not adhering to its own policies and procedures on hiring, firing and record retention and that senior leadership had acted irresponsibly.

Opler said her office will be stepping back while the Rubin Thomlinson investigation is ongoing.

Milsom said the investigation is expected to be complete by mid-February and the findings will be shared with the ombudsman.

Jennifer Pagliaro can be reached at 416-869-4556 or jpagliaro@thestar.ca.