CALIFORNIA – Tesla has reached a confidential settlement in a legal case brought by a former factory employee who alleged wrongful termination after reporting severe sexual harassment. This settlement comes amidst a backdrop of multiple lawsuits against the electric vehicle manufacturer related to gender and racial discrimination.
U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco dismissed the lawsuit filed by Tyonna Turner in 2023, just a day after both parties, Turner and Tesla, informed the court of their agreement. The terms of this settlement have not been disclosed to the public.
Turner, who worked at Tesla’s renowned Fremont, California assembly plant, joins a series of employees who have filed lawsuits against the company, accusing it of failing to adequately address workplace harassment targeting African American workers and women. This settlement could pave the way for similar resolutions in sexual harassment cases brought against Tesla since 2021.
Both Elon Musk, Tesla’s owner, and Turner’s legal representatives have refrained from commenting, maintaining silence on the details of the settlement.
In her lawsuit, Turner claimed to have experienced around 100 incidents of harassment during her nearly two years at the Fremont plant. These incidents included harassment by a male coworker who constantly followed her around the factory and verbally harassed her.
In addition to the sexual harassment allegations, Turner also claimed to have faced retaliation from her superiors after reporting the harassment and a workplace injury, leading to her dismissal in September 2022.
Judge Orrick previously denied Tesla’s attempt to move the case to private arbitration last August. This decision was based on a federal law enacted in 2022 that prohibits mandatory arbitration in cases of sexual harassment and assault.
Turner’s allegations are similar to those in at least six other pending cases against Tesla in California state courts. The company also faces racial discrimination accusations at its Fremont plant and other facilities, including claims by government agencies and class actions on behalf of thousands of African American workers.
Tesla has repeatedly stated that it does not tolerate any form of discrimination at its facilities and has taken disciplinary actions against employees involved in racist or discriminatory conduct.
This confidential settlement marks a step towards resolving labor conflicts within Tesla, serving as a reminder of the importance of fostering safe and discrimination-free work environments in all companies.
