Shegerian & Associates: Microsoft Investigates Sexual Harassment Overlooked by HR
NEW YORK, and LOS ANGELES, April 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft is now investigating claims of widespread sexual harassment and discrimination after an email thread detailing such instances was noticed by senior leadership at the company.
The chain began when one female employee asked others for advice on how to move up in the company, after having been in the same position for over six years without seeing the possibility of advancement. The question sparked dozens of women to share stories of sexual discrimination and harassment.
One female employee claimed that during a work trip, an employee of a partner company threatened to kill her if she did not perform implied sexual acts. After raising awareness of the issue to HR and management, she was told by her manager that "it sounded like he was just flirting" and that she should "get over it." HR said that since there was no evidence and the man worked for Microsoft's partner company, there was nothing Microsoft could do.
Another female employee shared that she was frequently called a "bitch" at work, and that it was pervasive to the company. During a roundtable with the women on the Xbox core team, every woman but one had been called a "bitch" at work.
One employee, who was working as a "Microsoft Partner," a senior level person in the organization, was asked to sit on someone's lap twice during one meeting, which occurred in front of HR and other executives.
Following the attention that the chain has drawn, Microsoft's head of human resources, Kathleen Hogan, said that she raised the issues with the company's senior leadership team and that she would personally look into the claims that HR originally passed over.
Carney Shegerian, the founder of employee rights law firm Shegerian & Associates, has weighed in on the issue.
"The widespread allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination at Microsoft indicate a hostile workplace environment to its women employees," Shegerian says.
About Shegerian & Associates:
Shegerian & Associates has won clients over $300 million in employment-based disputes and maintains a 98% success rate. We have offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and New York.
Media Contact:
Pace Public Relations
Kara Ryan
[email protected]
SOURCE Shegerian & Associates
Related Links
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article