The CEO of Foxtons has acknowledged that the company still has work to do in terms of workplace culture following a report that accused the real estate firm of allowing junior employees to experience unwelcome physical contact and other types of harassment. Guy Gittins, who has been with Foxtons since 2002 and returned as CEO three years ago, affirmed Foxtons’ commitment to promoting an inclusive, professional, and respectful workplace during the announcement of the company’s 2024 full-year results.

Gittins responded to a report by Bloomberg, which detailed allegations of improper conduct at Foxtons, having interviewed over 20 current and former staff members and reviewed legal records, emails, screenshots, and other documents. According to Gittins, although Foxtons has made significant progress in recent years—including implementing annual training on respect and inclusion, strengthening policies, and improving reporting procedures—there is still more that needs to be addressed.

Over the past two years, Foxtons has increased the number of female managers by 25%, improved employee engagement, and noted that 81% of staff would recommend Foxtons as a good place to work, based on a recent internal survey, the CEO mentioned. Gittins stated that these efforts are critical and, despite advancements, acknowledged that further improvement is both necessary and a priority. His aim is to create an atmosphere that draws in, inspires, and retains a wide array of talent, ultimately to deliver superior service to customers.

Foxtons reported that pre-tax profits for the previous year rose to £17.5 million, and that house sales in London reached the highest levels since Brexit in 2016, demonstrating the firm’s strong position despite the workplace culture challenges.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/05/foxtons-boss-says-firm-has-more-to-do-on-workplace-culture