Each and every day, hundreds of thousands of Americans choose to use Uber to get them to work, to the doctor's office, or to the grocery store. In an effort to keep these people (and their drivers) as safe as possible, the ridesharing company has moved to develop technology to track, monitor, and address instances of sexual harassment.
For analysts who have been closely watching Uber, this move comes as no surprise. The #MeToo movement has seen a large number of drivers and passengers come forward to tell their stories of sexual harassment or assault. Perhaps the most prominent example of this involves NFL quarterback, Jameis Winston - who recently settled a lawsuit filed by an Uber driver who alleges that he groped her.
Uber has also faced significant sexual harassment concerns at its headquarters in San Francisco. In May of 2018, Ingrid Avendaño sued the company for sexual harassment. In her complaint, the former engineer claimed that her co-workers sexually harassed her during her time at Uber and that the company's human resources department did not act on her concerns.
Of course, Uber is not the only company in the United States to have seen an uptick in sexual harassment claims in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement. Indeed, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently revealed that the number of sexual harassment complaints that they received between September 2017 and September 2018 was 12 percent higher than the previous fiscal year.
With the launch of its new sexual harassment tracking technology, Uber will no doubt hope that it can more effectively handle and document any sexual harassment that happens during one of its rides. This, in turn, should help to keep both the driver and the passenger safer on the road.
If you ever find yourself on the receiving end of a sexual harassment or assault complaint, you will need the help of an experienced law firm to guide you through the best way to deal with it. Here at Shapiro Zwanetz & Lake, our attorneys have over 50 years of proven legal skill that they can call on to ensure that you receive the best possible defense. When you need us, we will be there - just give us a call at (410) 927-5137.