On October 20, Netflix employees staged a walkout to Netflix and co-CEO Ted Sarandos’ handling of Dave Chappelle’s special: The Closer. Since it aired, both employees and members of the LGBTQIA+ community have spoken out about Chappelle’s use of transphobic hate speech during the stand-up. Actors Sara Ramirez, Colton Haynes, and Angelica Ross were among hundreds rallying in support of change.
Concerns were addressed to the popular streaming platform verbally and through a written letter. However, Netflix has declined to take it down. Though employees are still hopeful they’ll answer a list of demands to prevent transphobia and hate speech from happening again. Any sex discrimination attorney in Los Angeles would encourage companies in a similar position to act promptly and fairly to avoid lawsuits and labor complaints.
In fact, two former Netflix employees decided to take legal action against discrimination and retaliation by filing labor complaints with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last week. Trans employees Terra Field and B Pagels-Minor had been barred from speaking up against the harsh working conditions that followed.
According to the Guardian, Field was suspended for sneaking into an executive meeting to voice her concerns. She later resigned. Pagels-Minor was fired for releasing financial information about what Netflix paid for the Closer to news outlets. Though they were put at an unfair advantage, companies should have a plan in place for employees to voice their concerns without fearing job and wage loss. If the NLRB finds their allegations to be true, it will cost Netflix thousands in settlements and require the services of an experienced employment attorney.
Netflix issued a statement following the recent legal complaints: “We have resolved our differences in a way that acknowledges the erosion of trust on both sides and, we hope, enables everyone to move on,” as reported by The Guardian.
