A group of more than 20 current and former employees are accusing Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket ship company of being a toxic work environment and not adhering to proper safety protocols.

The workers claim in an essay that there's sexism at the Kent, Washington, company. The employees, led by former head of Blue Origin employee communications Alexandra Abrams, state that “numerous senior leaders have been known to be consistently inappropriate with women." They also claim that many company leaders were “unapproachable" and showed clear bias against women.

There were also safety concerns, with the group stating that Blue Origin seemed more focused on beating billionaires Richard Branson and Elon Musk to space rather than tackling safety issues that would have slowed down the schedule.

Bezos blasted into space on July 21 on the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, a date he selected for its historical significance. Bezos held fast to it, even as Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson pushed up his own flight from New Mexico and beat him to space by nine days.

The group said that last year company leaders seemed impatient with New Shepard rocket's schedule of a few flights per year, instead wanting more than 40. “Some of us felt that with the resources and staff available, leadership’s race to launch at such a breakneck speed was seriously compromising flight safety," they said.

Blue Origin said in a statement that it has no tolerance for any kind of harassment or discrimination and that it stands by its safety record. The company said it believes “New Shepard is the safest space vehicle ever designed or built."

Share:
More In Business
Stretching Your Dollar: The Art of Couponing
Consumers continue to navigate through rising costs at the register, whether it be at the grocery or department store. Beverly Harzog, personal finance and credit card expert with U.S. News & World Report, joined Cheddar News to provide tips on how to get the best deals during your shopping spree.
Used Car Prices Remain High
Used car prices have risen dramatically recently and continue to remain at a high rate. Cheddar News spoke with some customers and a salesman to get their take.
Tips for Buying a Used Car: Work With Reputable Dealers
Used car prices are skyrocketing, with some costing as much as a brand new car.  Cheddar News reporter Ashley Mastronardi has more on what's behind rising prices for pre-owned vehicles and some tips for getting the best bang for your buck.
Load More