Rivian executives accused of harassment in previously unreported lawsuits

Workplace Culture and Harassment Allegations - Rivian has faced multiple harassment lawsuits, with at least four employees suing the company in 2024 over allegations of harassment by top executives and inadequate responses from leadership [7][8] - Former employees, including Elizabeth Curran and Nathan Facciolla, accused chief designer Jeff Hammoud of creating a hostile work environment, with incidents of "irrational outbursts of anger" and derogatory remarks [8][9] - Jeremiah Powe, a line worker, filed a lawsuit alleging assault and battery by former COO Frank Klein, who allegedly pulled Powe to the ground for violating the dress code [6][8] - Nicole Hawkins, a production worker, claimed physical harassment and threats by a coworker, with HR allegedly failing to take action [8] - Angela Betancourt and Natasha Hill also filed lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and workplace misconduct, with both cases eventually settled [12] HR and Internal Response - Employees reported incidents to HR, but many claimed the department was unresponsive or failed to take meaningful action [5][6][8][9] - Rivian stated it has "explicit policies" addressing workplace conduct and investigates allegations thoroughly, but employees disputed the effectiveness of these measures [5][8] Leadership and Executive Behavior - Jeff Hammoud, chief designer, was accused of creating a toxic work environment, including overworking employees and making inappropriate comments [5][8][9] - Frank Klein, former COO, allegedly assaulted an employee and faced prior complaints from other workers before leaving Rivian in September 2024 [6][8][11] Settlements and Legal Outcomes - Rivian has settled multiple harassment and discrimination cases, including those involving Betancourt, Hill, and Schwab, a former head of sales and marketing [7][8][12] - Laura Schwab's 2021 lawsuit highlighted a "toxic bro culture" at Rivian, which garnered significant attention ahead of the company's IPO [8] Broader Implications - The lawsuits suggest ongoing cultural challenges at Rivian, particularly in addressing workplace harassment and ensuring accountability among leadership [8][12] - The company's internal culture has been under scrutiny since its IPO in 2021, with allegations of misconduct continuing to surface [8]