QBE chief executive has pay cut after romance in the workplace

A chief executive has had pay slashed by more than $500,000 after he failed to disclose a romantic relationship with his executive assistant.

QBE chief John Neal suffered a $550,000 cut to his bonus due to the relationship.

But Ross and John couldn’t understand why, questioning what relevance the relationship had to his job.

So they enlisted the help of Kamal Farouque, an employment lawyer with Maurice Blackburn.

Mr Farouque said a code of conduct stated ‘personal relationships that may cause a conflict of interest’ needed to be disclosed.

‘She reported directly to him, she was his executive assistant, the company took the view that he should have disclosed this relationship,’ he explained.