Eight ex-engineers who used to work at SpaceX are suing the company and CEO Elon Musk. They claim they were fired because they spoke up about how female employees were treated poorly.
They filed the lawsuit in California, saying Musk fired them himself after they wrote a letter to SpaceX about his inappropriate comments on social media. The lawsuit says that Musk created a culture of sexism and inappropriate behavior, where women were judged based on their appearance and faced sexual comments.
The lawsuit mentions Musk’s comments on his social media platform X, including one where he made a crude remark to former YouTube CEO Chad Hurley.
The employees’ lawyer, Anne B. Shaver, said that SpaceX allowed a work environment where sexual harassment was common. She said it was wrong to fire the employees for speaking out against it.
One of the plaintiffs, Paige Holland-Thielen, called the lawsuit an important step in seeking justice. She encouraged other employees to stand up for a better workplace.
The former employees are asking for money to make up for what happened and want SpaceX to stop behaving unlawfully. SpaceX has not commented on the lawsuit.
Before filing the lawsuit, the ex-employees went to the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to report SpaceX for breaking labor laws. The NLRB decided to pause their case to speed up a final decision in another lawsuit against the agency by SpaceX.
This situation sheds light on the importance of creating a safe and respectful workplace for everyone. It is crucial for companies to take allegations of harassment seriously and to address them promptly to prevent further harm to employees. Organizations must prioritize creating a culture of inclusivity and respect to ensure all employees feel valued and protected in their work environment.