Meghan Markle‘s staffers are speaking out after she was accused of being a terrible boss!

Earlier this month, The Hollywood Reporter claimed people who have worked with the Duchess of Sussex were left feeling “terrified” of her, with sources calling her a “dictator in high heels” who “belittles” people and who has reduced “grown men to tears.” This comes after she was accused of making Kensington Palace staffers cry during her time as a working royal. Meghan and Prince Harry‘s company, the Archewell Foundation, has also experienced a TON of turnover lately, making people believe that the Suits alum’s alleged poor behavior was the root cause for the employees leaving. But now current and former staffers are coming to her defense!

While speaking with Us Weekly on Tuesday, one current staff member said Meghan was one of the “best bosses I have ever had” while an ex-employee said their time with the Sussexes was “truly an honnor.”

Ben Browning, their former head of content who helped get the Harry & Meghan doc up and running at Netflix before leaving the company when his contract expired in early 2023, said his experience working with the royals “was positive and supportive,” insisting:

“We all continue to be friends. The narratives we’ve seen suggesting the contrary are untrue.”

Former chief of staff, Catherine St-Laurent, also told the outlet that she’s “remained close” to Harry and Meg since her exit, saying:

“The time I spent working with Prince Harry and Meghan was incredibly meaningful to me.”

Even Josh Kettler, whose departure in August caused another wave of controversy, urged that he was “warmly welcomed” by the couple during his three months at the foundation, calling them “dedicated and hardworking” while remarking that it “was impressive to watch.”

Ashley Hansen, the global press secretary for the couple and the head of communications for Archewell, pointed out that the couple went out of their way to be supportive to her when she needed to take an extended period of time off to recover from a serious surgery, she shared:

“When I told them, I was met with the kind of concern and care a parent would express if it were their own child. I was asked what I needed, how and if they could help, and told to take as much time as I needed.”

Harry and Meghan sent flowers and care packages, she recalled:

“But most profoundly to me, Meghan would personally reach out to my husband daily to make sure that we both were OK and had support. It meant so much to him and even more to me. You don’t realize how much that kind of kindness and thought means until you need it.”

That’s nice! And not something any boss would do. A second former employee was treated with similar kindness when they requested time off during a low point in their lives, they shared:

“I needed to be totally off the grid. They couldn’t have been more supportive and even paid me during my leave. It’s so in their nature to lean in and support and take into consideration that there is a human behind this job.”

So, how come so many people are leaving? If Meghan and Harry are such amazing bosses, wouldn’t people be begging to stay in the jobs for as long as they can?? Addressing this, Hansen pointed out:

“Archewell is not unlike a start-up; it’s relatively young. … Two things can be equally true: you can be a great leader and still have turnover. No boss or company is immune to that.”

The company — which is made up of the nonprofit side, production side, and communications (but does not include Meg’s upcoming lifestyle brand) — employs about 16 full-time people and has dealt with obvious growing pains. In August, NewsNation claimed the pair lost 18 employees in their time in the UK and US (though not all worked for Archewell). A current employee speculated:

“People leave at any company — they get new opportunities, change their careers or feel their role isn’t the right fit. They also sometimes get let go. Those decisions are part of doing business.”

Meanwhile, Hansen argued that the activists have no hard feelings toward anyone who has left, noting:

“They want people to grow and to have opportunity — whether that’s within or eventually outside of [the company].”

Then where are all these negative sources coming from?! The anonymous current staff shared that her colleagues are all “dumbfounded by the claims,” dishing:

“It’s clear where this type of commentary is coming from. It’s likely made up from someone who’s disgruntled.”

Browning added that the narrative is “simply a predictable attempt at creating intrigue through sewing false conflict.” Despite comments on the contrary, a source added that the office culture is positive:

“This is the first company I’ve worked [where I] liked every person. Harry and Meghan picked the best of the best from every field and watered the seeds for them to flourish. We have an enormous microscope on us. But good things are happening.”

While the production team has an office in Hollywood, other staffers mostly work remotely. Still, they have as much access to the royals as they want and will occasionally meet at the couple’s mansion or at Soho Works. The former employee detailed:

“The teams find ways to work together in shared spaces.”

Everyone is also welcome to request an in-person meeting with Harry or Meghan wherever and whenever they want. As for what the co-parents are like to work with, they will sometimes get dressed up for formal events, but are usually in baseball hats and T-shirts during virtual meetings. The first ex-staffer said of the Duke:

“He’s fun. He definitely takes the work seriously, but when a meeting starts, the first five or 10 minutes are all pleasantries, like, ‘How was your weekend?’ Or ‘How’s the construction going at the house?’”

“We’re planning a karaoke night because we have two people getting married on the team.”

It’s unclear if Meghan and Harry are always at these team events, but they do show up for their staff in many over-the-top ways. The first former staffer said the couple will give parents-to-be new gifts and high-quality secondhand stuff “like unused car seats and baby items they no longer need.” They’ll even go above and beyond for other family additions:

“When I adopted my dog, the next day, I had a luxury brand leash and new collar on my doorstep.”

Aw! During the couple’s recent trip to Colombia, the pair texted a team leader to take everyone out to drinks, too, the current employee reflected:

“They want to take care of us. Meghan will do things like, ‘You mentioned on the call your skin is bothering you, I put together a kit for you.’ […] Whenever staff goes to their house, they leave with a basket with fresh flowers, fresh fruit, fresh eggs.”

Sweet!

Speaking about the actress directly, the first ex-employee said she’s great about giving credit where it’s due, adding:

“If you’re in a meeting and a great idea is referenced, she makes sure to give props to the person who generated the idea. [After] a big trip, every employee gets a personal email thanking them for their contribution in making it a success.”

She’s also the first to wish people happy birthdays and is “compassionate and understanding” when it comes to illnesses or family commitments. As for rumors she throws tantrums, the current staffer insisted they’ve “never” heard her yell and that she “gives clear direction and is solution-oriented.” They also hit back at claims she’s often sending demanding emails at 5 a.m., sharing that her email signature reads:

“My working day may not be your working day. Please do not feel obliged to reply to this email outside your normal working hours.”

Obviously, if your boss sends you an email — even with that signature — you might still feel obligated to read it and reply, but at least she’s making an effort not to be too demanding, right? It’s better than nothing!

Feeling frustrated by the controversy, the current staffer mused:

“We’re here for a reason. If you come for our bosses, you’re coming for us. This isn’t a criminal organization. We’re trying to do good.”

Similarly, Mandana Dayani, who was the president of Archewell for 18 months in 2021 and 2022 and became pals with the couple, also told the publication:

“Part of the profound injustice of having to speak publicly on this in light of these endless and damaging narratives is that so much of the kindness, mentorship, and support that Prince Harry and Meghan share with others happens quietly behind closed doors. […] I’ll never forget sitting on the floor in their kitchen while Meghan was feeding Princess Lily and cold-calling a dozen senators — their reactions were unbelievable — to ask them to advocate for paid leave.”

She also traveled with Meg to Uvalde, Texas after the 2022 school shooting, adding:

“For hours, [Meghan] sat in a room with grieving families, going one by one to each person — hugging them and crying with them.”

She shared that Meghan is still in touch with the families she met there. Mandana continued:

“Some of my favorite memories were during our weekly meetings in their Montecito home, where Meghan always served the most incredible lunches, snacks and her latest beautiful concoction. […] These are kind, decent, caring people who I am very proud to call my friends.”

All very glowing… Makes you wonder how some people could have the best time of their life with the royals and others are reportedly being left in tears?? Is someone really just upset about getting fired and lashing out as retaliation OR is there any truth to those rumors? Hmm.