Over 20 current and former employee of Blue Origin , the aerospace company establish by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos , have write and published anopen letterslamming its " toxic " work culture , the base hit of its spacecraft , and the company ’s policy onenvironmental issue .
The damning open letter — title “ Bezos Wants to make a best Future in Space . His Company Blue Origin Is Stuck in a Toxic Past ” — was published on the platformLionesson September 30 . Signatories , include Alexandra Abrams , former head of Blue Origin employee communication theory , feel that upper management was so obsessed with leave the " billionaire infinite subspecies , " they skimped on safety precautions and addressing far-flung problems within the fellowship culture .
Among its many allegement , the letter claims that Blue Origin is " rife with sexism " and its aged leaders are " bang to be systematically inappropriate with woman , " including some that have been reported to hour for sexual torment on multiple occasions . The letter argues that Blue Origin presently has more than 3,600 employees , but 100 percent of the aged technical and program drawing card are men . This , they say , has further a toxic work environment in which many of the senior leadership have a “ clean-cut bias against women . ”
“ [ A ] former executive frequently address cleaning lady in a condescending and demeaning manner , call them ‘ baby young lady , ’ ‘ babe bird , ’ or ‘ smasher ’ and ask about their dating lives . His inappropriate behaviour was so well make love that some women at the company took to warning Modern female hire to stay away from him , ” one passage read .
The administrator was finally let go after “ physically fumble a female subordinate , ” the letter alleges .
As per the letter , Blue Origin leading request that all employees signal fresh contracts in 2010 with a non - disparagement clause that would forestall them from saying something that could “ offend the good will of the company . ” The signatories say this was effectively signing away employees ’ right to purpose employment disputes in court or to publically speak out about harassment in the workplace .
Along with allegation of rearing sexism , the letter also play up rubber business organisation about the spacecraft manufacture by Blue Origin . They lay claim that upper management became more and more impatient with the test escape schedule of New Shepard , the company’shigh profile “ space tourist ” rocket engine systemthat blasted Bezos into space in July this year . The missive says workers were push to scale up to more than 40 flights per year , which many fear would badly compromise trajectory base hit .
“ We have seen a pattern of decision - fashioning that often prioritise carrying into action speed and cost reduction over the appropriate resourcing to ensure quality , ” the letter says . " Today , Blue Origin is sell hind end on rockets , stating “ safety is their top mission ” despite the fact that very few regulations are in place to see to it that is truly the case . "
A spokesperson for the US Federal Aviation Administration , which oversees launch guard , gloss on the allegations , saying “ the FAA takes every guard allegation badly , and the agency is review the information . ”
On top of all this , the letter of the alphabet cites environmental concern , highlighting that Blue Origin does n’t appear to have “ any concrete plans ” to become carbon neutral or importantly reduce its environmental footprint .
eventually , the essay questions a existence where people unable to run for a respectful companionship are using " their wealth and resulting king to create a blueprint for humankind ’s future " .
“ Should we as a society countenance ego - driven individuals with dateless caches of money and very little accountability to be the single to work that future ? ” the letter concludes , with a final " Ad Astra " parting shot .
Blue Origin has responded to the opened letter with a inadequate statement saying : " Blue Origin has no leeway for favoritism or harassment of any kind . We provide legion avenues for employee , including a 24/7 anon. hotline , and will promptly investigate any new claims of misconduct . We stand by our safety record and believe that New Shepard is the safest space fomite ever designed or built . ”
