Head of HR at Uber allegedly dismissed discrimination
As ‘chief people person’ she was one of the firm’s top spokespeople on diversity
SAN FRANCISCO >> Uber’s head of human resources quit Tuesday in the wake of an investigation into her handling of racial discrimination allegations at the ride-hailing firm, according to Reuters.
Liane Hornsey joins a growing list of top-ranking executives who have parted ways with Uber in the past year.
Hornsey’s resignation came after Reuters contacted the firm about a previously unreported investigation into accusations from anonymous whistleblowers that she had regularly dismissed internal complaints of racial discrimination, the news outlet reported.
A spokesperson for Uber confirmed the Reuters report.
In an email to her team, Hornsey admitted her departure “comes a little out of the blue for some of you, but I have been thinking about this for a while,” according to Reuters.
Hornsey, who had been in the role of “chief people person” for about 18 months, was one of the firm’s top spokespeople on diversity and discrimination issues, Reuters reported.
She was also largely in charge of fixing cultural issues spotlighted by former engineer Susan Fowler in an explosive blog post accusing company managers of sexual harassment and sexism.
“I have said, very publicly, ‘Thank you’ to her because she raised some stuff that did lead to change,” Hornsey told the publication. “I don’t know whether there would be any benefit in meeting her. I’m seriously working for my employees today; she’s an ex-employee.”
Fowler took offense to the comment, tweeting “oooh burn,” and, “She really, really doesn’t like me.”