A photo of ‘sexy Santa’ dancers performing at a Seven Network staff meeting to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas (Is You) has raised eyebrows and drawn criticism.

The women in short red dresses and Santa hats were reportedly brought out on stage at the meeting of Seven Network parent company Seven West Media in Perth last Friday.

The Australian Financial Review published the image and reported that some female staff were shocked and walked out of the “town hall”-style meeting in protest.

The meeting was reportedly meant to introduce The West Australian newspaper’s new appointments such as former The Australian editor Chris Dore as editor-in-chief.

A spokesman for Seven West Media defended the choice of entertainment, telling the AFR it was part of a Christmas pageant that was a “Perth institution”.

The AFR’s Mark Di Stefano, who broke the story, posted the picture to social media.

“Seven West Media is grappling with damaging allegations about its work culture towards women,” he wrote.

“At a town hall on Friday, Seven execs brought out sexy Santa dancers leaving attendees horrified that the company still doesn’t get it.”

Social media users reacted negatively to the revelation, with one observing that “tone deaf doesn’t go far enough”.

Another person posted: “Seven Sleaze could be a new channel! They do it so well.”

The controversy comes after an ABC Four Corners investigation earlier this month uncovered allegations of bullying, sexism, assault and exploitation that have reportedly left staff hospitalised, unable to work and attempting suicide.

Four Corners said it spoke to more than 200 people for the story, including current staff.

There has also been a string of high-profile departures from Seven in recent months amid a host of controversies.

They include embarrassing revelations surrounding payments made to Bruce Lehrmann amid the rape allegations against him and his subsequent defamation trial.

In late April, news and public affairs programs director Craig McPherson quit. Seven West said he would “take a long break” to spend time with his family – he is married to TV personality Sonia Kruger and they share a young daughter.

McPherson was replaced by Anthony De Ceglie, who was previously editor of the West Australian newspaper.

Earlier in April, then-CEO James Warburton left, months ahead of a departure that had been scheduled for the middle of the year.

Seven has faced falling revenues amid a structural decline across the media industry.

More recently, it has also endured reputational fallout from its Spotlight show on Lehrmann and backing Ben Roberts-Smith in a disastrous defamation case.