Zillow Accused of Subjecting Female Employees to ‘Sexual Torture’

Zillow, an online real estate index that has built up a $4.6-billion valuation, is in hot water for allegedly creating a culture of widespread sexual harassment.

A lawsuit against Zillow, first reported by The Recorder and described in Gawker’s Valleywag, accuses the company of “sexual torture” toward its female employees, who were reportedly constantly solicited for sex by co-workers and ranked on their breast size.

Zillow employees sent their co-worker and the plaintiff in the suit Rachel Kremer pictures of their penises, according to the lawsuit. Co-workers asked Kremer to have sex with them and harassed her repeatedly, an experience that was “pervasive throughout” Zillow’s leadership, according to the suit.

Kremer was allegedly sent texts like “Wanna blow me and have sex tonight” and “Thinking 333 dinner drink and your smooth vagina.” The suit describes Zioo’s Southern California office as an “adult frat house” where”sexual harassment and misconduct are normalized, condoned, and promoted by male managers.” Kremer was allegedly fired after rejecting her male co-workers’ advances.

A spokeswoman for Zillow said in a statement that the company is investigating the claims made in the lawsuit, and emphasized that Zillow doesn’t tolerate harassment. “The allegations in the complaint do not reflect Zillow’s culture or workplace and are completely inconsistent with our values,” said Zillow.

[Gawker]