An Employee Sued Tesla for “Rampant” Sexual Harassment of Women in a California Factory

That same plant of Elon Musk’s company had been peppered with a case that ended in a million-dollar sentence for racism.

Tesla owner Elon Musk

A worker at a Tesla factory in California sued the electric car maker, claiming that women are subjected to rampant sexual harassment at the facility and that managers have failed to act despite their complaints.

The Fremont plant in the San Francisco Bay area has been plagued by several controversies recently, including a million-dollar sentence for racism and a battle over COVID-19 restrictions.

In the new lawsuit filed Thursday, Jessica Barraza says she was the victim of sexist language and behavior, including frequent groping at the factory. The plaintiff assures that the supervisors and managers were aware of these facts, and some of them were even directly responsible for them.

“While it is publicly claimed that a safe and respectful environment is fostered for its workers, the truth is that for years Tesla has subjected the women who work at its Fremont plant to nightmarish conditions of rampant sexual harassment , “ the lawsuit states.

Tesla, for its part, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Barraza alleges that one of her colleagues, for example, approached her from behind and put his leg between her thighs. “Almost every day, for three years, my co-workers and I were objectified, threatened, touched and subjected to proposals in the factory,”she remarked in a statement issued by his lawyer.

Barraza, 38, said she complained several times to supervisors and to a human resources representative. Despite its warnings, the company did not take any action, it said.

Instead, she believes she was the target of retaliation after several complaints, such as being assigned to a new position or facing disciplinary action after an episode with a man who shoved his leg between hers.

Currently, with a medical disability and a diagnosis of post-traumatic disorder, he is seeking compensation and punitive damages , as well as forcing Tesla to implement training, follow-up and sanctions programs to prevent any sexual harassment.

This new lawsuit comes weeks after a California jury sentenced Tesla to pay a former black employee $ 137 million in damages for the racism the man faced at the Fremont plant.

Last year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had a dispute with authorities over the factory’s reopening amid the coronavirus restriction, and threatened to move its headquarters out of state.

Musk subsequently announced to investors in October that the leading electric vehicle maker is moving its headquarters to Texas , where it is building a plant.