SpaceX’s lawsuit alleges multiple instances of gender discrimination and fundamental defense failures

Warning: The following article covers sensitive matters.

A SpaceX employee has filed a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of siding with an executive who pressured her to have sex with him. The plaintiff said she and other female employees also had to endure “derogatory comments” questioning their credentials, that she was passed over for promotions in favor of male applicants, and that she experienced retaliation when she complained about being paid less. low pay than their male counterparts.

Plaintiff Michelle Dopack has worked at the aerospace corporation’s headquarters in California since 2017. According to her complaint, she was discriminated against early in her career when she was passed over for job opportunities in favor of external male applicants. Her male co-workers are said to be spreading rumors about their female colleagues as well, claiming that they only got their jobs because of their looks. Dopak and two of her female colleagues met with Gwynn Shotwell to complain about both issues — “an action that no male colleague or employee at SpaceX would feel the need to take to justify their hiring and stop such discriminatory actions “, the lawsuit says. However, SpaceX’s president apparently took no action.

After a reorganization in 2019, the plaintiff was placed under the supervision of a male boss who allegedly coerced her into a sexual relationship that lasted for years. When she became pregnant as a result, she said her married supervisor offered her $100,000 to have an abortion, which she refused. She also accused SpaceX of conspiring with her boss to transfer 48,289 shares worth $3,718,253 on his behalf so he could get out of paying child support.

Her complaints didn’t stop there. After being promoted to a position she had pursued for years, she found out that a male colleague who was hired at the same time was being paid $5,000 more. Company officials she spoke to about the pay gap could not justify it and allegedly offered her only $2,500 more if she took a cut of the stock. In the lawsuit, the plaintiff said the offer was “a message that if you complain to SpaceX, we’re just going to retaliate and find other ways to punish you.”

The lawsuit accuses SpaceX of forcing female employees who have allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination to submit their claims to arbitration so they can be kept secret from the public. “SpaceX also tried to coerce and force [the plaintiff] only to arbitrate its claims, although such claims are barred from being compelled to arbitrate,” the complaint continued.

The plaintiff is seeking general, compensatory and consequential damages, including lost wages, earnings and other employee benefits. She also wants the court to enjoin SpaceX from continuing any “unfair and illegal business practices.” SpaceX is right now facing another proposed class action lawsuit alleging it pays women and minorities tens of thousands less than it pays white men. In January, the National Labor Relations Board also filed a complaint against SpaceX, accusing it of wrongfully firing a group of engineers who criticized Elon Musk for joking with X about sexual misconduct allegations against him.