"More than 450 employees at the Santa Clara Valley Water District, a government agency based in San Jose, attended the Zoom meeting last Thursday. They raised highly critical questions to board members Tony Estremera, Shiloh Ballard and Nai Hsueh over the ethics of the vote involving former CEO Rick Callender, whether it was a defensible use of public money, and what message it sent to female employees."
"Years ago, Callender had a previous harassment complaint against him, Keller read from one employee question that he said was typical of others. Yet the district promoted him to CEO. Now there are three additional complaints against Callender and he is still getting a full salary and will continue for an additional year."
"As the board members sought to reassure the staff, saying that sexual harassment is not tolerated at the district, which provides drinking water and flood protection to 2 million people in Santa Clara County, and that they cut the deal to avoid a lawsuit Callender had threatened, some employees lit up the screen with emojis of excrement, snakes, piles of cash, clown faces, circus tents and tomatoes."
The Santa Clara Valley Water District board voted to pay departing CEO Rick Callender $520,000 to resign and serve as a special advisor for one year following an investigation into sexual harassment of female staff. Over 450 employees attended a Zoom meeting to question three board members about the decision's ethics and appropriateness. Callender had a previous harassment complaint before his CEO promotion, and three additional complaints emerged afterward. Employees expressed frustration that the board appeared to condone harassment while using public money to facilitate the CEO's departure. Board members defended the decision as necessary to avoid litigation, but staff responses included critical emojis and pointed questions about protecting employees from future misconduct.
#sexual-harassment #corporate-governance #public-sector-accountability #employee-relations #severance-controversy
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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