Stories of anti-LGBT taunts, racial abuse and threats related to both have been recorded by employees of Tesla. One of such cases was a man who was repeatedly mocked and threatened because of his ‘gay tight’ dressing. Nothing was done about it when he reported, and he was penalized after complaining the second time. After continuous failure to stop the menace, he was fired without cause, and he filed a wrongful termination case for this.
Tesla has protected itself against these allegations by claiming an excellent track record. This does not tally with the many reports and lawsuits filed against the company including discrimination against race, gender, and anti-LGBT cases. Tesla always denies or refuses to address such claims saying they are unmeritorious.
An attempt to stand up
The man who was harassed because of his dressing claimed his supervisor began the series of taunts not long after he joined the company. After many threats, he feared for his safety and reported to a manager that he was facing reproach and threats because he was gay. Even though his assembly line was changed, he was still approached with similar problems. His second complaint had him transferred again, and according to him, this sent a retaliatory message from the company as he felt he was being punished. Shortly after, his manager sent him home without pay claiming he needed a doctors clearance to continue working because of an injury that dated back over two decades. He was fired even before he could see the doctor. Even though the doctor cleared him later on, Tesla’s actions were wrong and should be unacceptable.
For this, Tesla claimed they are regularly scrutinized in the public eye even though the company has an excellent track record. Company policy instructs that such cases be handled internally.
Unbearable racial discrimination
Another Tesla employee also filed a lawsuit hoping to defend other black workers from the abuse, racial discrimination and violent threats he and his son experienced at the company. This man reported severe racial sobriquets and drawings of derogatory cartoons of black people. He also witnessed his own son being abused like this in Tesla and felt powerless to help him.
Tesla replied with a defense as usual. They attacked the mans lawyer and tried to cover up the racist part when they did not even care enough to notice the reports before it was brought to public light.
