New York - The chief executive of Uber Technologies has ordered an "urgent investigation" into claims
of sexual harassment at the ride-hailing service company made by
a former employee.
Susan Fowler, an engineer who left Uber in December, wrote
in a blog post that she was subjected to sexual advances through
a 'string of messages' over the company's chat software from the
beginning of her employment in late 2015. http://bit.ly/2kCE416
"What she describes is abhorrent and against everything Uber
stands for and believes in," CEO Travis Kalanick said on the
Twitter microblog on Sunday in response to Fowler's post. He
said he had instructed the company's new Chief Human Resources
Officer Liane Hornsey to conduct an urgent investigation.
Fowler wrote that Human Resources told her the person "was a
high performer" and that management would not be comfortable in
"giving him anything other than a warning".
Arianna Huffington, who joined Uber's board last year, said
in a tweet that she would work with Hornsey in the
investigation.
Kalanick, in an Uber statement, said there is no place for
this kind of behavior at Uber and that "anyone who behaves this
way or thinks this is OK will be fired".
Read also: Uber is projected to lose $3 billion in 2016
The sexual harassment claims are the latest hit to Uber,
following the social media campaigns against Kalanick's
participation in President Trump's business advisory group. The
mounting pressure from activists and employees who opposed the
government's immigration policies led to Kalanick's departure
from the group.