Christopher Clermont, former head of diversity and inclusion at WeWork, has filed a lawsuit against the company, stating that it had underpaid minority employees and kept them out of leadership roles.
Clermont, who is Black, said his role was used often in promotional materials, but he had little responsibility. He added that the company retaliated against him after he made a complaint about a white manager, which led to him being let go.
This is one of two discrimination lawsuits filed against the company by former WeWork employees this week.
Diane Allen, who was hired by WeWork in 2017 and served as the company’s stock plan administrator, accused the company of sexual harassment, racial and gender discrimination and equal play violations. Allen, who is also Black, stated that within the first six months at the company, she was “repeatedly sexually harassed by a male coworker” at a company conference. No action was ever taken after she made a report.
She added that she was shut out of meetings and refused salary increases, while her male and non-Black counterparts received several. Allen said that WeWork also hired a white man for the same role, yet paid him 12% more, and promoted him above her despite her having more experience. She later quit her role.
A spokesperson for WeWork has denied these claims, calling them “wholly without merit.”