Tesla Employee Says Rap Music Made Workplace Sexually Hostile

Tesla Inc. subjected a female employee in Nevada to a sexually hostile work environment, including loud “obscene and misogynistic rap music” and comments and touching by a co-worker, a new federal lawsuit charges.

The sexual harassment occurred at the company’s industrial facility 20 miles east of Reno, Shauna Israel says. She complained repeatedly, but Tesla failed to investigate and take the prompt remedial action required by federal law to end the abuse, she says.

The offensive music was replete with references to women as “bitches,” graphic references to sex, and other foul terms, the US District Court for the District of Nevada suit says. Israel’s co-workers, and one male colleague in particular, would often make statements and engage in actions in response to the music, according to the suit.

That male co-worker additionally made sexual remarks directly to her, including repeatedly asking if she was married, Israel says. He also stalked her, put his arms around her, rubbed her arms, shoved her toward his crotch, and restrained her when she tried to walk away from him, Israel says.

Israel complained to human resources about the music but no measures were taken to curb it, the lawsuit says. She also complained to HR about the co-worker stalking and touching her and was told to arrange her job duties in a way that avoided him and to make sure she had a colleague with her when she interacted with Johnson, the suit says.

The sexually hostile work environment was so severe that it forced her to quit, Israel says.

Whether “sexually graphic” workplace music can amount to sexual harassment under federal anti-bias law is an issue currently pending before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Sharp v. S&S Activewear LLC.

Causes of Action: Sexual harassment and retaliation under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Relief: Compensatory damages; economic damages; punitive damages; declaratory and injunctive relief, including order compelling Tesla to enforce a reasonable policy against sexual harassment; attorneys’ fees and costs.

Response: Tesla didn’t immediately respond Friday to Bloomberg Law’s request for comment.

Attorneys: Mark Mausert and Sean McDowell, both of Reno represent Israel.

The case is Israel v. Tesla, Inc., D. Nev., No. 3:22-cv-00462, complaint filed 10/20/22.