Ex-workers at SpaceX file lawsuit against Elon Musk.
Four women and four men have penned an open letter alleging sexual harassment and discrimination at SpaceX. Unfortunately, they were then let go by the company, with a lawsuit claiming that Elon Musk himself ordered their termination. The employees now intend to take legal action against him.
The lawsuit, filed in the Los Angeles Courts, describes a toxic work environment characterised by unyielding sexism. The targeted groups include women and members of the LGBTQ+ community. The plaintiffs depict Musk as someone who treats women as mere objects of desire, evaluating them on their appearance, not their skills. His crude language, as well as infamous innuendos, were a constant presence at SpaceX. For those who dared to speak out against this culture, they were told that they could find employment elsewhere.
The former employees also criticised Musk's public demeanour as a significant concern. As the face of SpaceX, his official Twitter updates could influence public perception of the company. His attitude was believed to be mirrored within the company, further perpetuating the alleged sexualised work culture.
The complaint has already sparked an investigation by the US labour agency. SpaceX attempted to inhibit the ex-workers from discussing their experience by launching a lawsuit against the agency. Moreover, troubling reports of sexual harassment and racist practices have emerged from the Tesla plant in California. Musk leads this electric vehicle manufacturer as well.
The accusations made by the ex-employees have since initiated a labour probe against SpaceX. However, the company retaliated by filing a lawsuit to hinder the employees from speaking about their association with SpaceX. Furthermore, similar allegations of sexism and racism have surfaced at Musk's other company, Tesla, at their California plant.
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After filing the lawsuit in the Los Angeles Courts, Elon Musk and SpaceX are named as defendants in the complaint. Despite the allegations of a toxic work environment and sexual harassment at SpaceX, Musk continues to oversee operations at his other company, Tesla, where similar accusations have been made.
