Can Harassment in the Workplace Hurt Business Reputation? By Dan Atkerson on March 06, 2017

Uber is in the midst of a massive scandal after a former employee published a blog outlining widespread sexual harassment at the company. According to the blog’s author, a manger sexually harassed her on multiple occasions. When she went to HR to complain about the harassment, she was shot down because the manager was a “high performer.” After the blog was released, more allegations surfaced about Uber’s “Game of Thrones-style” company culture. These allegations have caused considerable damage to Uber’s reputation.

Reports from former and current workers suggest employees and managers undercut each other to receive the best performance reviews. This culture creates an atmosphere of extreme hostility. One of the allegations against Uber involves a manager threatening to “bash an employee’s head in with a baseball bat.” Additional allegations suggest a director at the company shouted a homophobic slur at a subordinate.

Can Harassment in the Workplace Harm Businesses?

Uber’s scandalous company culture has caused an uproar among users and shareholders. In an effort to save face, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick held a private meeting with 100 female engineers at the company. During the meeting, he apologized for problems with the company culture. Uber’s reputation (and likely wallet) have suffered damage as a result of the scandal.

In response to the scandal, the #DeleteUber hashtag has gone viral, encouraging users to delete the app and use competitors like Lyft instead. Uber’s fiasco should serve as a reminder that harassment hurts both employees and businesses.

Do Workers Harmed by Harassment in the Workplace Have Options?

Workers who are mistreated or harassed by bosses or coworkers may have legal options. Depending on the circumstances, bullying may be illegal. An attorney can help workers harmed by harassment discover available legal options for holding their employers accountable.

Dallas labor law attorney Dan A. Atkerson can help you discover options for fighting back against workplace sexual harassment.