Employees in the United States have options for addressing discrimination due to sexual harassment. Those who have experienced these forms of harassment in the workplace may be able to take legal action to address issues such as a hostile work environment or actions by managers or other employees that have affected their careers or their ability to maintain employment. These issues can affect workers even at high profile companies that have a positive reputation. This was recently demonstrated in a lawsuit filed against Tesla, the maker of electric vehicles.
Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Comments and Other Forms of Harassment
In November of 2021, a 38-year-old woman who works the night shift at Tesla’s plant in Fremont, California filed a lawsuit against the company. Her suit claims that she experienced sexual harassment on a daily basis and that the company has a “pervasive culture” of sexist behavior.
In the lawsuit, the woman described multiple types of disturbing behavior that she experienced. In addition to derogatory comments about her body and other sexual comments made to her and her female coworkers, she also experienced groping and inappropriate touching, including male workers rubbing their bodies against hers or claiming that touching was unavoidable due to the need to work close to each other. She also had supervisors proposition her while claiming that they controlled her career and advancement. While she alleges that had filed multiple complaints, she also alleges that the company did not respond, and that the harassment she experienced caused her to suffer extreme emotional distress.
One issue that complicates this case is Tesla’s requirement that employees sign an arbitration agreement. This agreement requires employment disputes to be settled outside of court. However, the woman in this case has claimed that the arbitration agreement is unconscionable. During the litigation of her case, the courts will determine whether the arbitration agreement is enforceable.
This lawsuit comes on the heels of a recent judgment against Tesla in a case where a factory worker at the same facility in California claimed that he had experienced racial discrimination. In that case, a court ruled in favor of the worker and ordered Tesla to pay $137 million in punitive damages.
Contact Our Wheaton Sexual Harassment Lawyers
Sadly, the harassment experienced by the woman who filed a lawsuit against Tesla is far from unique. Employees throughout the United States regularly suffer similar forms of harassment, and they may feel that their options for addressing this issue are limited. Fortunately, employees can take action to address this issue and hold their employers responsible for the harm they have suffered. At MKFM Law, we can provide you with legal representation in these cases, and we will work to ensure that your rights and interests will be protected. Contact our DuPage County sexual harassment attorneys at 630-665-7300 to get legal help with your case.
Sources:
https://richmond.com/business/
https://www.bbc.com/news/
