A former Meta employee who was placed on the “Do Not Hire” and “No Trespassing” list for stalking and sexually harassing a male co-worker was hired by Meta after its hiring department was downsized, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday. It was revealed that he had been rehired.
The complaint, filed in New York Supreme Court, accuses Mehta of violating New York City's human rights law by rehiring former employees and further harassing the plaintiffs.
The lawsuit also alleges that after the plaintiff contacted Mehta's human resources department about rehiring the alleged stalker, Mehta retaliated by removing the plaintiff from a major project.
“I talked to my employer multiple times about this and was told he couldn't come into our office, he wouldn't be hired again. Then all of a sudden this guy reached out and said, “to me” [on Meta’s internal messaging system]'' said James Napoli, marketing leader at Meta's New York office. told CNBC.
Mehta declined to comment.
The lawsuit comes after a series of layoffs at Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger.
In March 2023, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company would undergo a restructuring and eliminate a total of 21,000 jobs over time.
The dismissal was met with criticism. It's clogging up some of the teams in the meta. – Especially customer service and fact checking.
The company's recruiting department also suffered, according to the complaint. Napoli's lawyers say in the complaint that the company relies “heavily on recruiting employees through outside contractors” and “has a far smaller number of recruiters screening applicants.” .
“Meta's employment practices are clearly so disorganized, reckless, and inefficient that the company is unable to track the most basic workplace data point: dangerous individuals who pose a significant risk to Meta's employees. ” the lawsuit states.
“Still, Meta is telling government agencies that it has the ability to protect the personal data of billions of children and adults on its platform.”
The colleague accused of stalking Naples (referred to as “GF” in the complaint) worked in Meta's marketing team. He was laid off in 2022 when the company cut 13% of its workforce.
GF and Napoli had met at work before being fired, but were merely “work acquaintances,” Napoli said.
After GF was released, he asked Napoli if they could meet up for coffee, and Napoli was shocked by his “disturbing behavior,” the filing states.
GF reportedly told Napoli, “I want you to know that God is speaking to me and has been speaking to you since April.”
Almost immediately, Napoli raised concerns about GF, who was sending up to 30 messages a day, to Meta's human resources department and manager.
Over the next nine months, GF's harassment only intensified, the complaint alleges.
According to the complaint, GF contacted Napoli's sister and claimed Napoli was in the hospital for further information.
He wrote letters and messages to Napoli, naming his partner, family and dog, according to the complaint.
“I'm being tortured by AI technology that I don't know where it came from, and I feel like my love for you is being used in an experience that I don't consent to. Meanwhile, I feel like I'm being tortured by AI technology that I don't know where it came from, and that my love for you is being used for an experience that I don't consent to. Meanwhile, I'm being tortured by spirits who are trying to get me to deal with you.” According to Napoli, in the message I am the messenger of the two.
After GF discovered Naples' home address, he left “a large amount of disturbing writing and drawings” at his home, according to the complaint.
“I was worried about going out, I was worried about my dog, I was worried about my partner, all of which were mentioned by this person,” Napoli told CNBC.
Napoli reported the harassment again after Mehta received 20 messages, phone calls and emails threatening him, his partner and his dog, according to the complaint.
He considered getting a restraining order, but was unable to do so under New York state law because he had no close or family relationship with his stalker, according to the complaint.
In September 2023, Mr. Meta's human resources department assured Napoli that “he is safe at work,” and GF was placed on both the “Do Not Hire” list and the “Do Not Enter” list, which prohibits him from entering company buildings. It was listed on.
But Mehta rehired the stalker just four months later, and Napoli discovered this when Mehta received a message from GF on its internal messaging system, the complaint said.
GF, who had been rehired by Mehta through a contractor, said he would soon meet Napoli at a work meeting, the complaint alleges.
A month later, Mr. Meta told Napoli that GF had been fired again, but after GF realized that Napoli's concerns had led to his own firing, he said the harassment was “revenge and threats of sexual violence.” has increased dramatically,” the complaint states.
The lawsuit also alleges that Napoli endured retaliation after raising concerns about GF for the second time. The company removed him from important projects and gave him negative performance reviews, according to the complaint.
Napoli is seeking unspecified damages and asking the court to prohibit Meta from rehiring GF or retaliating against him.
