All too often, employers abuse their positions of power in order to take advantage of their workers. A recent case proves that this is not a limited phenomenon, and that one of the largest and most influential corporations in America can be affected by this issue. A former Disney Channels Worldwide executive has filed a lawsuit alleging that she received unfair treatment and was ultimately fired for reporting her boss for sexual harassment.
The executive, formerly a director of multi-platform research, reported her boss in February of 2015 for making inappropriate sexist remarks to two other women with whom he worked. Despite being told that her report would be confidential, her boss was able to identify her as the source, and explicitly told her that there would be consequences for her action. The former executive was demoted, sidelined from most work responsibilities, and eventually fired.
The Consequences of Speaking Out
The lawsuit alleges that the former executive experienced a two-year retaliation campaign from her boss, showing multiple abuses of power and intimidation tactics. After being given a warning regarding his inappropriate behavior and determining the source of the complaint, the offender made multiple open displays of his anger in front of other employees, presumably as a means to dissuade others from stepping forward in a similar way or supporting their co-worker’s claims.
The suit claims that the former executive was isolated, lost responsibilities, and demoted. In addition, the harasser is alleged to have engaged in similar behavior toward the women he was accused of harassing, excluding them from work functions and otherwise marginalizing them in their duties. Even after the former executive was no longer working directly under her harasser, he directed other employees in her department to ignore her and make her work far more difficult. She ended up being repeatedly rebuffed in attempts to find projects before eventually being fired.
Montgomery County Sexual Harassment Lawyers at The Gold Law Firm P.C. Fight for Victims of Sexual Harassment and Discriminatory Practices
This story of sexual harassment and workplace mistreatment at the Disney Channel shows the value of legal representation in the face of such issues. If you have experienced sexual harassment or unfair treatment for reporting sexual harassment, the Montgomery County sexual harassment lawyers at The Gold Law Firm P.C. are prepared to represent you. To schedule a consultation, call us at 215-569-1999 or contact us online. From our offices in Center City, Philadelphia, we serve clients in Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and New York.
