Rocket maker SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk have been sued Wednesday by eight engineers who declare they have been illegally fired for elevating considerations about alleged sexual harassment and discrimination in opposition to girls.
The engineers, 4 girls and 4 males, declare Musk ordered their firing in 2022 after they circulated a letter calling the billionaire a “distraction and embarrassment” and urging executives to repudiate sexually charged feedback he had made on-line. social. The lawsuit was filed in state court docket in Los Angeles.
The lawsuit says Musk’s conduct fostered a “pervasive sexist tradition” at SpaceX the place feminine engineers have been routinely subjected to harassment and sexist feedback and their considerations concerning the work tradition have been ignored.
“These actions…had the foreseeable and precise results of offending, inflicting misery, and intruding on the well-being of the plaintiffs to disturb their emotional peace within the office,” the plaintiffs stated within the lawsuit.
SpaceX didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
SpaceX has denied any wrongdoing and stated the 2022 letter was dangerous and that employees have been correctly fired for violating firm insurance policies.
Paige Holland-Thielen, one of many plaintiffs, stated in an announcement supplied by her attorneys that Wednesday’s lawsuit is an try to carry SpaceX leaders accountable and spur adjustments in office insurance policies.
“We hope this lawsuit encourages our colleagues to remain robust and proceed preventing for a greater office,” he stated.
The eight engineers are already the main target of a US Nationwide Labor Relations Board case that claims their firings violated their rights below US labor regulation to advocate for higher working situations.
SpaceX filed a lawsuit alleging that the labor board’s inside enforcement procedures violate america Structure. Final month, a U.S. appeals court docket paused the NLRB case whereas it considers SpaceX’s try to dam it from transferring ahead pending the end result of the corporate’s lawsuit.
Wednesday’s lawsuit accuses SpaceX and Musk of retaliation and wrongful termination in violation of California regulation, and in addition accuses the corporate of sexual harassment and intercourse discrimination.
The plaintiffs search unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and an order prohibiting SpaceX from persevering with its allegedly illegal conduct.