Eight former employees have filed a lawsuit against SpaceX and its CEO, Elon Musk, claiming they were illegally fired for raising concerns about gender discrimination and sexual harassment within the company.
The lawsuit, filed in a California state court, accuses Musk of leading SpaceX with outdated and inappropriate practices, treating women as sexual objects and fostering a workplace environment filled with lewd banter. The former employees allege they were dismissed for challenging these conditions.
The plaintiffs co-authored a 2022 open letter that criticized Musk and called on SpaceX executives to cultivate a more inclusive workplace culture. Supported by at least 400 other employees, the letter urged SpaceX management to clarify that Musk’s public statements, especially on Twitter, did not reflect the company’s values. It also pointed out the inconsistent enforcement of SpaceX’s “No A**hole” policy.
The lawsuit claims Musk personally ordered the termination of the eight employees following the release of the letter. In response to the letter in 2022, SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell stated her commitment to enforcing the company’s zero-tolerance policy against harassment but noted that the employees were fired for making others feel uncomfortable.
Similar complaints were filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that the terminations were retaliatory actions against employees engaging in protected activities. One plaintiff, Tom Moline, previously accused SpaceX management of turning a blind eye to mistreatment and harassment, claiming such behavior was encouraged by Musk.
Earlier this year, SpaceX responded to the NLRB’s consolidated complaint with a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the NLRB’s structure.
The new lawsuit details statements made by Musk and actions by other employees that the plaintiffs claim contributed to a hostile and pervasively sexist culture at SpaceX.
SpaceX has not yet responded to requests for comments on the lawsuit and typically does not engage with media inquiries.
This lawsuit raises serious questions about the workplace culture at SpaceX and the actions taken by its leadership in response to allegations of gender bias and harassment. As SpaceX continues to expand its influence in the space industry, these legal challenges may prompt further scrutiny of its internal practices and policies.