Investigations are now underway against Elon Musk's SpaceX over allegations that it supports a discriminatory environment to female employees and illegally firing workers who raised criticisms regarding the company, Reuters reports.
The investigation will reportedly be handled by the California Civil Rights Department, wherein the California-based employees who brought the case reportedly claimed that the aerospace company's conduct violated the state's Fair Employment and Housing Act.
(Photo : Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Elon Musk, founder and chief engineer of SpaceX speaks at the 2020 Satellite Conference and Exhibition March 9, 2020 in Washington, DC. Musk answered a range of questions relating to SpaceX projects during his appearance at the conference.
They were fired in 2022 after publishing an open letter criticizing Musk's behavior. It is illegal for employers to discriminate against or take retaliatory action against workers who voice concerns due to their gender. SpaceX received its full accusations last month in documents filed with the California Civil Rights Department.
Six specific complaints reportedly state that SpaceX, based in Hawthorne, California, regularly denies women opportunities for employment and promotions in favor of men, underpays women for work equivalent to that done by men, tolerates sexual harassment and other forms of abuse, and retaliates against the engineers and other employees who file complaints.
Read Also: SpaceX Sued by US Over Alleged Hiring Discrimination Against Refugees, Asylum Seekers
SpaceX's Alleged Sex Biases
According to Laurie Burgess, the lawyer of the employees behind the claims, the purpose of the complaints was to protect the engineers and make the workplace safer for all SpaceX workers.
Paige Holland-Thielen, one of the complainants and a basic-level engineer in the aerospace company hired in 2018, reportedly alleges that despite being scheduled to attend numerous meetings, she was excluded from them. She goes on to say that she was excluded from many decisions that she had the original authority to make.
Furthermore, when Holland-Thielen complained that a male colleague was taking credit for her work, she claimed in her complaint that a manager told her she was very emotional and ought to be more modest.
SpaceX reportedly has until later this month to reply to the California civil rights agency. After that, it will determine whether to reject the accusations or make an effort to mediate a settlement. The company may then authorize the employees to sue or begin legal action if a settlement cannot be reached.
SpaceX vs. Employees
As per Bloomberg, the documents present a fresh front in the legal dispute between SpaceX and the employees. SpaceX has already seen a similar discrimination lawsuit last August by the US Justice Department, alleging that the corporation discriminated against refugees and asylum seekers in hiring practices.
Prosecutors for the NLRB concurred last month, charging SpaceX with unlawfully retaliating against the employees. The Musk-led business sued the FCC in retaliation.
Analysts claim that the SpaceX cases are part of a larger corporate campaign to weaken workers' rights and stifle a labor movement that is on the rise.
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