Moral of the story: If you sue your employer in an at-will state, you're very likely to be fired. Now, the only winners will be the lawyers.
As well as other employees who will not have to suffer harassment as a result.
Tesla fires female engineer who alleged sexual harassment
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Re: Tesla fires female engineer who alleged sexual harassment
#12Moral of the story: If you sue your employer in an at-will state, you're very likely to be fired. Now, the only winners will be the lawyers.
She did not just sue her employer -- she gave interviews to news outlets, touting unproven allegations.
Do you think that Tesla should continue to pay someone who is actively and deliberately tarnishing their image, without giving them a chance to make things right (if they were ever wrong to begin with)?
Re: Tesla fires female engineer who alleged sexual harassment
#13This sounds terrible for Tesla in many directions. Either she is right, in which case Tesla sounds very bad. Alternatively, Tesla is completely right (which I personally don't believe), in which case as they confess that : "Vandermeyden had been granted numerous positions “over other more qualified candidates” and was “given special treatment and opportunities for advancement that were unwarranted based on her qualif…
Yes, that really stood out for me too. They've essentially already admitted that they are susceptible to pressure and on top of that they may be in violation of the law too.
Screwed either way.
Re: Tesla fires female engineer who alleged sexual harassment
#14Is there many cases where you sue your employer, go make public statements about the case and still have a job at the end of the day?
Well, I guess the question at the end of the day is if her claims have merit. If she can prove the discrimination, her termination is illegal. If she's been unreasonable, and Tesla has indeed, as it claims, made every effort to meet her needs, I absolutely can see why they'd fire her.
I don't think that's the relevant point, as they are two separate things: 1) was she discrimated against?; 2) as the parent says, are her subsequent actions legal grounds for firing her regardless?
She can be a victim and still subsequently act in breach of her contract (acknowledging that the contract must be legal).
Re: Tesla fires female engineer who alleged sexual harassment
#15Is there many cases where you sue your employer, go make public statements about the case and still have a job at the end of the day?
Tenured professor is one exception I know of (but they're usually an exception in many things). Didn't know the story personally, but heard from other colleagues when I worked at a college.
Re: Tesla fires female engineer who alleged sexual harassment
#16Moral of the story: If you sue your employer in an at-will state, you're very likely to be fired. Now, the only winners will be the lawyers.
She did not just sue her employer -- she gave interviews to news outlets, touting unproven allegations. Do you think that Tesla should continue to pay someone who is actively and deliberately tarnishing their image, without giving them a chance to make things right (if they were ever wrong to begin with)?
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Re: Tesla fires female engineer who alleged sexual harassment
#17Side note: "Therese Lawless, Vandermeyden’s attorney" A lawyer named "Lawless" in real life. It's like there could actually be a Dewey, Cheetham, and Howe LLP
It's like an ice cream guy named Cone.
Re: Tesla fires female engineer who alleged sexual harassment
#18>At the time, Vandermeyden said she was hopeful her lawsuit and public comments would not end her career at the company. How could she honestly expect to keep her job with an employer she is sueing and smearing in the media? Why would she even want to continue working there?
because maybe it was a ploy to get a better raise? who knows. you're right, though - if the allegations were true, why continue to work there?
Re: Tesla fires female engineer who alleged sexual harassment
#19Is there many cases where you sue your employer, go make public statements about the case and still have a job at the end of the day?
Well, I guess the question at the end of the day is if her claims have merit. If she can prove the discrimination, her termination is illegal. If she's been unreasonable, and Tesla has indeed, as it claims, made every effort to meet her needs, I absolutely can see why they'd fire her.
Tesla isn't merely claiming they've met her needs, they're actually claiming that she's received privileged treatment because she's a woman:
> Tesla added that Vandermeyden had been granted numerous positions “over other more qualified candidates” and was “given special treatment and opportunities for advancement that were unwarranted based on her qualifications”.
Re: Tesla fires female engineer who alleged sexual harassment
#20This sounds terrible for Tesla in many directions. Either she is right, in which case Tesla sounds very bad. Alternatively, Tesla is completely right (which I personally don't believe), in which case as they confess that : "Vandermeyden had been granted numerous positions “over other more qualified candidates” and was “given special treatment and opportunities for advancement that were unwarranted based on her qualif…
The latter indicates that there was something there. Why should someone get special treatment of that nature?