The Tesla manufacturing facility in Fremont, CA makes some of the most cutting-edge automobiles in the world. Unfortunately, it has also been cited for alleged sexual harassment. Described as being a “predator zone” by a former female engineer, the factory was cited for having a victimizing mentality carried by its male managers and higher-ups. Other female employees also supported her claims. The allegations are highly refuted by Tesla, but claims of wage and promotion suppression, sexist comments, and having upper level employees consist almost entirely of men have come out. She was fired a few months after making the reports public.
What Signs of Are Included in the Tesla Sexual Harassment Claims?
- Wage suppression/lack of promotion: The employee cited she was not being paid as much as her male counterparts, and was withheld from promotion to a higher in the position in the company. The higher up positions were allegedly held by almost all males, which is a red flag for gender discrimination.
- Sexual harassment: Reports of catcalling, crude sexual jokes, even men standing on a podium to taunt women as they walk past were cited. If it is enough to make you feel intimidated and uncomfortable, it is likely not appropriate for the workplace. However, knowing where the legal line is drawn can be difficult, and consulting a Los Angeles employment attorney can help you figure out if your employer crossed it.
- Exclusion from company proceedings: The female engineer claims to be the only woman included in multiple important company meetings for the company. When protected groups of employees are largely misrepresented, or unable to access important information that could contribute to job performance and wage increases, this can be illegal.
- Fired for speaking out: You are not legally allowed to be fired for filing a workplace harassment complaint.
Reports of sexual harassment are more common than you may think, but can be difficult to prove. Los Angeles employment discrimination attorneys at Kesluk, Silverstein, Jacob & Morrison, P.C. are dedicated to investigating your workplace procedures to make sure they are compliant with the law.