Cisco accused of failing to take 'timely and reasonable actions' to protect staff from discrimination
Global tech firm Cisco has been found to have likely subjected a group of pro-Palestinian employees to a "hostile work environment," according to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The EEOC said that it has "reasonable cause to believe that [Cisco] subjected a class of individuals to a hostile work environment based on their national origin (Middle Eastern), religion (Muslim), and/or association with Muslim and/or Middle Eastern individuals, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964."
The letter was obtained and released by Legal Aid at Work (LAAW), which brought the case to the EEOC in December 2024, alleging that Cisco failed in its duty to end sustained harassment against employees who supported Palestine.
But Cisco disagreed with the EEOC's determination, and maintained that it took appropriate measures.
"Cisco thoroughly investigated all concerns and took appropriate action," a spokesperson told The Guardian.
Allegations against Cisco
The allegations against Cisco revolve around a group of employees who belong to Bridge to Humanity (B2H), a larger segment of the tech giant's workforce composed primarily of Palestinian, Arab and/or Muslim employees.
B2H internally circulated an open letter, signed by 1,700 employees, seeking accountability from Cisco for its alleged sales to the Israeli military.
The group was concerned that the company's surveillance and AI technologies were being used by the Israeli military to support its actions in Gaza subsequent to 7 October 2023, in violation of Cisco's Global Human Rights Policy and Code of Business Conduct.
But B2H claims that they were subjected to vicious and Islamophobic harassment in Cisco-moderated online spaces and outside of work after the open letter was circulated to the company's leadership.
In its complaint letter, employees said members of Cisco's Connected Jewish Network, an internal employee forum, made comments that "repeatedly glorified violence, joked about sending people to their deaths, likened Palestinians and those with opposing viewpoints to animals, [and] labelled Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims as murderous, violent, terrorists."
Cisco, however, only responded to employees' complaints months later, and declined to take any broader actions outside of removing "'some' of the racist and egregious comments."
"Cisco failed to take timely and reasonable actions to protect them, and B2H members and the allies, from harassment based on their status as Palestinians, Arabs and/or Muslims, and to prevent their future harassment," LAAW's complaint to the EEOC read.
'A win for all workers'
Christopher Ho, Director of the National Origin and Immigrants' Rights Programme at LAAW, said the EEOC "properly concluded" that Cisco violated Title VII for its inaction.
"This EEOC finding is a win for all workers who have been harassed and retaliated against for speaking up about Palestine or any other issue," Ho said.
"Workers have rights in California and across the nation. Any employers who violate those rights will be held accountable."
Jeffrey Wang, managing rights attorney at the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also said the finding is an "important step toward accountability."
"Employers have a legal responsibility to address harassment and discrimination fairly and consistently. Workers should not have to fear retaliation or a hostile work environment because of their religion, national origin, or association with protected communities," Wang added.
The EEOC's determination is not a final court ruling, but its findings can be "helpful" should employees decide to pursue the case in court, The New York Times reported.
LAAW said the Class Members are "considering their next steps."
The EEOC's determination is the first instance of the US federal government finding that a major tech firm failed to stop discrimination targeting employees who were collectively engaged in pro-Palestine activism.
It comes following the strong divide the Israel-Palestine conflict caused in workplaces, placing the pressure on HR leaders on how to avoid fostering toxic environments.
