A former employee of SpaceX has filed a lawsuit against the aerospace company, alleging years of sexual abuse, discrimination, and retaliation.
Michelle Dopak, a production coordinator at SpaceX headquarters in California, brought the lawsuit against the company, claiming that she faced various forms of mistreatment during her tenure.
Accusations Against SpaceX
In the lawsuit filed in state court on Tuesday, Dopak accuses SpaceX of gender-based discrimination, unequal pay, and retaliation for reporting sexual harassment by her manager.
She alleges that her supervisor pressured her into a sexual relationship that resulted in a pregnancy, and when she declined his offer of $100,000 for an abortion, SpaceX allowed him to transfer $3.7 million in stock options to avoid paying child support.
Dopak further claims that SpaceX is attempting to force her to quit by burdening her with excessive work. Specifically, she alleges that managers were making her work 12-hour shifts, six days a week, notwithstanding her entitlement to accommodations for work-related stress.
The lawsuit also outlines how Dopak allegedly received lower pay compared to men with similar positions within the company. She is seeking unspecified damages for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and unequal pay, in violation of California law.
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Legal Storm Brews for SpaceX
The lawsuit comes amidst other legal battles SpaceX is facing. Last October, SpaceX faced another lawsuit from a former female employee who alleged that the company pays and promotes women and minorities less than their white male counterparts.
Ashley Foltz, a former SpaceX engineer, filed a proposed class action lawsuit in California state court, citing that the company paid her $92,000 per year, whereas men with comparable duties and qualifications earned up to $115,000.
In January, The National Labor Relations Board accused SpaceX of wrongful termination and surveillance of workers who criticized CEO Elon Musk.
The US labor agency's complaint, consolidating eight charges, alleges SpaceX's actions after employees circulated a letter in June 2022. The letter, addressing various workplace issues, urged executives to condemn Musk's behavior on social media, including dismissive remarks about sexual harassment allegations.
Seven of the former SpaceX employees lodged civil rights complaints in February, accusing the company of discrimination and sexual harassment. SpaceX has denied wrongdoing in previous cases and has not yet responded to requests for comment on the latest lawsuit.
