Sources say CBS News chief Neeraj Khemlani is facing an internal HR review.

The CBS News cost-cutting boss who clashed with Nora O’Donnell is facing an internal personnel review over complaints about his harsh management style, The Post has learned.

CBS News co-president Neeraj Hemlani, who has been accused of being “rude” and “micromanaged” as he cut jobs and wages, including those of CBS Evening News host O’Donnell, has recently been slapped in the face by a torrent of complaints about human resources. – the latest data from the head of the personnel department, the sources said.

The complaint led to a larger internal review led by CBS corporate director of human resources Whitney Delich. The review, which began a few months ago, focuses on how Hemlani talks to women of color and employees, The Post has learned.

Prior to the investigation, Khemlani was subjected to a “360 performance review” by his superiors and direct reports. As a result, Hemlani had to attend counseling sessions to learn how to talk to employees “without sarcasm” using “friendly body language,” multiple sources said. Employees said they noticed a change after the chief executive met with department heads over the summer to make sure he was “communicating clearly” and that they “understood their roles.”

“Neeraj has lost his claws,” an insider familiar with the situation told The Post.

However, sources said Khemlani — a former Hearst chief executive who was tasked by CBS CEO George Cheeks to cut costs on what some see as the network’s possible spinoff from its parent company Paramount Global — was, according to one knowledgeable source. , “cutting the division to the bone” and limiting its ability to compete in the US and abroad. With further belt-tightening, some are wondering if Hemlani will be the next victim.

“It’s a big deal,” an insider familiar with the corporate investigation said, adding that CBS CEO George Cheeks was “very worried” and that Hemlani might not renew his contract in 2024.

“The only question is when his wings will be clipped,” the source said of Hemlani.

Even Cheeks himself has privately expressed doubts to colleagues that Helmany is the right person for the job, an insider close to the situation told The Post. And that’s despite Khemlani receiving praise for streamlining CBS News’ streaming, and the news network getting big scoops on Biden’s classified documents, Britney Griner’s release from a Russian prison, Prince Harry’s explosive 60 Minutes interview, and the poaching of several high-profile collaborators. such as journalist Robert Costa.

“We do not comment on rumors or speculation,” a CBS spokesperson said.

Scheks could not be contacted for comment. Hemlani did not respond to requests for comment.

Insiders noted that Hemlany’s beloved co-president Wendy McMahon, as well as his close ally Alison Pepper, senior vice president of human resources strategy, have taken a more active role recently. Some have speculated that Cheeks could add Hemlany’s duties to McMahon’s while others have said he could bring in CBS News veteran Ingrid Cyprian-Matthews, who serves as executive vice president of news gathering, to replace Hemlany or even promote him as an executive producer. “60 minutes”. Bill Owens, who is said not to want the job.

In O’Donnell’s case, Hemlany was able to take a $7.2 million pay cut but damaged her reputation when he actively sought a replacement, sources say. In March, Hemlani held meetings with competitor Brian Williams, who left MSNBC last year. He also considered NBC’s Craig Melvin and even considered promoting Tony Dokupil, co-host of CBS Mornings, to host the last-placed news program, according to The Post.

The O’Donnell camp complained to Cheeks and Shari Redstone, chairman of Paramount Global, that they would go above Khemlani in April to work out a new deal for the host, sources said at the time. An insider said O’Donnell’s new contract proves she “wins” and “runs the show”, pointing out that her longtime ally Adam Verdugo has been named executive producer, ahead of senior producers Arturo Rimes and Elizabeth Turner.

Hemlany’s embarrassing moments, which included telling employees “Your job is to listen, not talk” and harassing employees with 24/7 emails and phone calls, came to a head when CBS News staff lambasted the executive in a company-wide poll at May. Cheeks responded at a June 2 city hall meeting that the company needed to prioritize work-life balance.

Hemlany and McMahon also formed a “diversity and inclusion council” to “promote and develop a culture of belonging and well-being,” according to a transcript of the meeting obtained by The Post. Hemlani emphasized the importance of engaging “underrepresented employees” and said he would “attend a tour of the hearing” and “get actionable advice” on how to improve the workplace.

Hemlani’s efforts mimicked attempts by previous news presidents to form staff-led advisory committees, the source said, believing they were “a waste of time” because the findings are never made public and little to no implementation..

“Every time there’s a crisis, CBS creates these committees,” the source said. “It’s just horses… t. If you want to do something, you do it. You don’t have another advisory committee.”

Khemlani has taken a friendlier stance, sources say, after a complaint was filed against him with the human resources department last year by an African-American woman, the network’s vice president of human resources. The chief executive filed the complaint after Hemlani allegedly expressed disappointment that he was not receiving a direct message from her boss, according to a source familiar with the situation.

“Neeraj was having issues and was wondering why he wasn’t getting more feedback from the #1 HR manager and not their #2 assistants,” the source said. “One of the lieutenants got offended and thought it was done out of racism and revenge.”

Hemlani is an American of Singaporean descent.