Fortune magazine named XPO Logistics one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” for 2019, and one group is calling that offensive in light of several recent allegations brought forth by its employees.
Employees at XPO’s Verizon warehouse here reported sexual harassment and unsafe, hazardous working conditions, including extreme heat last summer. In the last year, more than a dozen XPO employees have filed Equal Employment Opportunity claims against the company relating to unsafe conditions
There have also been various incidents of pregnancy discrimination, including refusals to allow pregnant employees to take on less strenuous tasks, leading to several miscarriages, which was brought to light in October by The New York Times.
However, XPO made the list as one of Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” in the trucking, transportation, and logistics category, based on criteria including investment value, quality of management and products, and social responsibility.
James P. Hoffa, president of International Brotherhood of Teamsters General
President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters General, James P. Hoffa said including XPO on the list is offensive to all of the women who have brought allegations forward about the company.
“XPO Logistics being named a ‘World’s Most Admired Company’ is offensive to the dozens of women who have come forward with allegations against the company of pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment, and the hundreds of port truck drivers employed by XPO who are suffering egregious wage theft,” Hoffa said. “Even after The New York Times report, along with over 100 members of Congress and a number of national organizations calling on XPO to address these issues, the problems with the working conditions and culture still fester throughout the company and across the country.”
House Members, led in part by Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen, urged the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in December to investigate the many allegations of “disturbing treatment” of pregnant employees at XPO’s warehouses around the country.
Hoffa said XPO is not a company people should be admiring.
“There is nothing admirable about women losing their unborn children on the warehouse floor,” Hoffa said. “There is nothing admirable about workers losing their life on the job because they were denied medical attention. There is nothing admirable about XPO employees working 14-16 hour days with little to no breaks. There is nothing admirable about illegally classifying workers as ‘independent contractors’ and stealing their wages.”
Hoffa said Fortune should have looked more closely at the companies they recognize: “Just a little investigation into XPO would show a company that fails its workers when it comes to social responsibility.”