Feds say Cisco likely failed to protect pro-Palestinian workers from harassment

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) found “reasonable cause to believe” Cisco Systems subjected Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim employees to a hostile work environment, violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This determination follows an investigation into an “ugly climate” at the tech company after the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. The EEOC's finding, though not a binding ruling, could support employees considering legal action. Legal Aid at Work, representing the affected employees, stated that messages in an internal “Connected Jewish Network” forum “repeatedly glorified violence, joked about sending people to their deaths” and “labeled Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims as murderous, violent, terrorists.” Christopher Ho of Legal Aid at Work commented, “This is a massive multinational corporation with all the resources in the world, and they couldn't get it right.” Cisco has disputed the EEOC’s determination, asserting it “thoroughly investigated all concerns and took appropriate action.”