A SpaceX employee said in a new lawsuit against the company that she endured sexual abuse, unequal pay, discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation during her seven years working at the company’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California. But her story paints a more serious picture than these single words can convey, describing widespread harassment and coordinated actions that not only enabled sexual coercion but later provided cover for it, and she One of the men in question was her direct supervisor.
The employee, Michelle Dopak, also claimed that SpaceX’s president and vice president ignored her pleas for action. The details of her complaint were particularly grim. While they echo the story of five former SpaceX employees and eight women suing Tesla, another Elon Musk company, in 2021, the story appears to be darker.
Here’s the entire complaint, if you want to read it, but know that it’s a deeply disturbing read.
content warning: This document contains descriptions of sexual abuse.
Dopac, who still works at SpaceX, claims managers tried to force her to quit by forcing her to work 12 hours a day, six days a week, violating her need for medical accommodations.
SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.