Uber Pays $4.4 Million to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Probe
Uber agrees to a $4.4 million settlement with the EEOC over claims of sexual harassment and retaliation. The ride-hailing company also implements new systems to track repeat offenders and monitor management responses.
Uber agrees to pay $4.4 million to settle a 2017 sexual harassment and retaliation charge brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC finds reasonable cause to believe that Uber permits a toxic workplace culture that punishes employees who report harassment. This investigation stems from widespread reports about the company's work environment under the leadership of former CEO Travis Kalanick.
As part of the settlement, Uber distributes the funds to eligible female employees who experience sexual harassment or retaliation between January 1, 2014 and June 30, 2019. A claims administrator currently sends notices to all female employees who work at Uber during this timeframe so they can respond and potentially receive monetary relief.
Beyond the financial penalty, Uber implements new workplace safeguards to prevent future incidents. The company establishes a system to identify employees who face multiple harassment complaints and flags managers who ignore these issues. Additionally, former EEOC Commissioner Fred Alvarez monitors Uber's compliance with these new measures for the next three years.