A leak in the Microsoft messaging chain describes a hellish workplace for women



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Photo: Sean Gallup (Getty)

An internal Microsoft messaging chain, reported for the first time by Quartz, would detail a litany of acts of sexual harassment and blatant discrimination perpetrated by women within the company. The chain has received hundreds of responses since its launch on March 20, according to Wired, prompting employees to protest the toxic work culture during a question-and-answer session with CEO Satya Nadella on Thursday.

"This thread ripped off the wound," a Microsoft employee wrote in the email chain, Quartz reported. "Collective anger and frustration are palpable. A large audience is listening now. And you know what? I am good with that. "

The allegations in the discussion thread include issues now considered typical in the technology sector, such as lack of promotions and unfair treatment of employees of under-represented groups within the technology sector. from the company, reported Wired. Microsoft employees reportedly sent emails in the channel on Thursday morning.

Other claims are extremely overwhelming. An employee of Microsoft Partner reportedly wrote in the email that "he had been asked to sit on someone's lap twice, in front of another person, in front of human resources managers and managers. 39 others, "saying that they had done nothing to remedy this violation of company policy. "The person said he did not have to listen and repeated his request a second time," she wrote, according to Quartz. "Nobody said anything."

According to another Microsoft employee, an employee of a Microsoft partner company reportedly threatened to kill her during a work trip if she did not engage in sexual acts. She also described HR's alleged complicity and lack of investigation or disciplinary action against the party concerned. "I immediately drew attention to human resources and management," she wrote, according to Quartz. "My manager said it seemed like a flirt" and that I should "put it back." Human resources have basically said that since it does there was no evidence, and that this man was working for a partner company and not Microsoft, he could not do anything. "

Another employee who had worked in the Xbox's core team reportedly stated in the messaging chain that it was common to be referred to as "slut" within the company. She stated that she had been called one a number of times and at round tables with the women of the Xbox "every woman, except one, had been called a bitch at work," according to Quartz.

"Before people said it was just an Xbox deal (as I heard that the franchise was all too often at Microsoft before), the other one [engineering] The organizations where my experiences took place were Windows and Azure, "she wrote. "It's a Microsoft case, a common case."

According to Wired, about 100 to 150 employees would have attended the meeting on Thursday, not counting those who connect remotely. "We're fed up," said an employee at the branch. "I know that there is James Damores at Microsoft, they just have not written a memo, unlike what he did." by Gizmodo in August 2017.)

Microsoft Human Resources Manager Kathleen Hogan reportedly responded to the messaging chain on March 29 and told Nadella about it the same day. "I would like to offer all those who have had such degrading experiences, including those who believe they have been fired by management or human resources, to send me an email," Hogan wrote. in the email that Microsoft shared with Gizmodo and other media. "I will personally examine the situation with my team. I understand the devastating impact of such experiences and [Nadella] wants to be made aware of such behavior and we will do everything in our power to put an end to it. "

Hogan also encouraged employees to make an appointment with the Microsoft Diversity Officer to discuss the issues described in the messaging chain.

If you are a former employee of Microsoft or have ever been a victim of sexual harassment or discrimination in the company, you can send me an email at [email protected]. You can also contact us anonymously via SecureDrop.

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