Proactive Investors - A former employee of Blackberry (TSX:TSX:BB) has lodged a lawsuit against the company and its newly appointed CEO, John Giamatteo, alleging sexual harassment and subsequent retaliation after reporting the misconduct.
The news dropped ahead of the technology company’s expected fourth quarter earnings release, due after market close on Wednesday.
Identified as Jane Doe in court documents, the California-based woman of color worked for Blackberry (TSX:BB) for more than ten years in various senior roles.
She claims that members of the company's leadership were aware of her complaints when Giamatteo assumed the role of CEO in December.
According to Doe, her treatment at BlackBerry (TSX:BB) violated both the US labor code and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, resulting in her wrongful termination.
BlackBerry has responded to the allegations, asserting that they are baseless. In a statement, the company emphasized its commitment to maintaining a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. The statement also mentioned that an extensive investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing or violations of the company code of conduct.
However, Doe alleges that her career trajectory was derailed when Giamatteo assumed the role of president of BlackBerry's cybersecurity business in October 2021. She claims that Giamatteo made inappropriate advances towards her, including suggesting they travel together and engaging in unprofessional behavior during a dinner meeting.
Despite reporting the incident to then-CEO John Chen, Doe claims that Giamatteo retaliated against her by excluding her from meetings and spreading false rumors about her professionalism. She further alleges that she was terminated from her position as part of a "restructuring" in December 2023, shortly after cooperating with an investigation into her allegations.
As of now, no charges have been laid, and the allegations remain unproven in court. BlackBerry has stated its intention to vigorously defend against the lawsuit.
New York-listed shares of BlackBerry edged 1.4% higher in afterhours trading.