Staffers on Howard Stern's SiriusXM radio show have reportedly been instructed not to speak with the host at company parties, with a warning that doing so could lead to termination, according to an insider speaking to The U.S. Sun. The workplace environment has been described by sources as "cultish."
One source alleged that male staffers appeared desperate for Stern's approval, stating, "All of these men [who work for Stern] are so desperate for Howard’s attention, it’s like they all just want Daddy’s approval so bad." This dynamic, combined with what another insider called a prevalence of Stern's images throughout the workspace, contributed to the perception of a cult-like atmosphere.
"You go into that compound, and it’s just pictures of Howard everywhere," the first source claimed. "And then everyone greets each other like, ‘Hey now, hey now,’" referencing one of Stern's signature catchphrases. While appearing lighthearted on the surface, the insider suggested a deeper, "cultish" undercurrent.
A second source corroborated this sentiment, describing the environment as cult-like, particularly from an external perspective. "Whenever you’re part of something, and you know someone is in charge of everything, you know you want to please that person," the second insider stated.
These allegations surfaced approximately one month after a dozen staffers were laid off from Stern's SiriusXM show. The employees were reportedly informed of their termination via Zoom. Stern, who reportedly earns $8,000 per minute, was also said to be planning a reduction to one new show per week after Labor Day, with a core team of veteran producers retained.
Reports indicate that some laid-off employees are negotiating severance packages and have not signed non-disclosure agreements attached to their departures.
In April, Stern and his wife, Beth, were sued by their former assistant, Leslie Kuhn, who alleged a hostile work environment. Kuhn claimed she was fired due to "immense pressures on the household created by irresponsible and untenable animal rescue and fostering operations occurring on-site, and massively disorganized and questionable business operations and accounting practices." The couple has filed to dismiss the $2.5 million lawsuit, characterizing the complaint as a "shakedown."