Zillow Likened To 'Adult Frat House' Amid Sexual Harassment Accusations

Warning: This article describes legal action taken because of workplace sexual harassment and is graphic in nature.

Known primarily as a multi-billion dollar valued database that stores, sorts and suggests real estate, Zillow Inc Z has now gained notoriety as a different type of real estate proprietor.

In a lawsuit filed Monday, December 1 against the company by former employee Rachel Kremer, the company is accused of “cultivating an ‘adult frat house' culture” and unjustly letting female employees go.

Perverse Workplace Culture

The suit describes how male employees objectified their female co-workers, nicknaming the women based upon their womanly, physical assets.

In addition to the labelling, Kremer describes an instance where a new employee was referred to as “Rachel 2.0.” The lawsuit states, “He [Kremer's supervisor] explained, she was like ‘Rachel but with bigger breasts and less miles on her.'”

Unsolicited And Inappropriate Interactions

The lawsuit provides explicit text conversations as evidence of the inappropriate interactions Kremer's supervisor Gabe Schmidt, sales manager Cody Fagnant and other male co-workers attempted to engage Kremer in: from unwelcome, uninvited text message photos of an erect penis to direct sexual propositions, the lawsuit delivers evidence spanning months.

Unjust Termination

The plaintiff, Kremer, reported in the lawsuit that she personally feels her termination was a direct result of her unwillingness to participate in or reciprocate the inappropriate communications.

The lawsuit states:

“Eventually, after experiencing the most heinous acts of sexual harassment imaginable, Ms. Kremer was terminated. Zillow attempted to cover up their conduct by having Ms. Kremer sign a confidentiality agreement and release. Ms. Kremer brings this action based on the sexual torture she endured, and for the other women who have been silenced at Zillow, and remain exposed to horrific and unthinkable acts.”

At this time, Zillow's COO is reported saying that the accusations are being investigated, but rebuffs the suggestion that the company fosters or allows a company-wide epidemic as described by Kremer.

For more in-depth coverage of the Zillow lawsuit, see the ValleyWag article “Zillow Accused of Subjecting Female Employees to ‘Sexual Torture'” and the initial report from The Recorder, “Zillow Sued for ‘Shocking' Sexual Harassment.”