Rivian executives accused of harassment in previously unreported lawsuits
Four employees have sued Rivian in separate lawsuits this year over allegations they were harassed, in some cases by top executives.
Four employees have sued Rivian in separate lawsuits this year over allegations they were harassed, in some cases by top executives, and that the company’s leadership did little to address their concerns, according to a TechCrunch review of court records.
Rivian has also reached settlements in three other harassment and discrimination cases, TechCrunch has learned.
Lawsuits aren’t uncommon in the automotive industry, particularly with large companies that operate factories and multiple facilities. But the allegations contained in these previously unreported lawsuits against Rivian, and the ones that it has settled, suggest the company is still sorting out its internal culture – a culture that was thrust into the spotlight three years ago when it went public.
Two of the lawsuits, filed in California’s Orange County Superior Court, center around Rivian chief designer Jeff Hammoud, who has been with the company since 2017.
One filed by former color, material, and finish team director Elizabeth Curran in February 2024 accuses Hammoud of being “prone to irrational outbursts of anger,” incidents she describes as being “often directed at the women in leadership.”