Sexual Harassment Allegations Light Fire Under Uber
|
Version 0 of 1. Uber may end up doing Lyft a big favor if it can't effectively manage the bad press swirling around the company. Now Uber has taken the bold step of retaining former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to look into allegations of discrimination and sexual harassment made over the weekend by Susan Fowler, a former engineer at the San Francisco-based company. "It's a strange, fascinating, and slightly horrifying story that deserves to be told while it is still fresh in my mind," Fowler wrote as a prelude to her account, which includes being propositioned by her boss. Holder's hiring was revealed to employees through an internal email from Uber CEO Travis Kalanick on Feb. 20, according to media reports. "First, Eric Holder, former U.S. Attorney General under President Obama, and Tammy Albarran -- both partners at the leading law firm Covington & Burling -- will conduct an independent review into the specific issues relating to the workplace environment raised by Susan Fowler, as well as diversity and inclusion at Uber more broadly," Kalanick said in a copy of the email obtained by Recode, a technology news website. Covington & Burling has been used by Uber in litigation with drivers. Kalanick's email also said Uber board member Ariana Huffington would be involved in the review. "Travis spoke very honestly about the mistakes he's made - and about how he wants to take the events of the last 48 hours to build a better Uber," Huffington wrote in an Uber newsroom post. "It was great to see employees holding managers accountable. I also view it as my responsibility to hold the leadership team's feet to the fire on this issue." |