Thread by @AlphabetWorkers

We've been hearing about folks who are pushed into EAP—employee assistance program, i.e. therapy—when they raise workplace concerns like harassment.

Now this pattern is public. And worse, Google is actually using therapy records against people in court.
nytimes.com/2021/07/28/us/…

@chelseyglasson filed a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit against Google b/c she was stripped of management responsibilities & told her pregnancy would "rock the boat."

She had gone through the EAP therapy. When she filed suit, Google used her therapy records against her.

This is a huge violation. We've been demanding that Google stop using information from EAP sessions in lawsuits & stop pushing people into EAP instead of addressing their workplace harassment.

justice-for-jessica.com

Because EAP is *not* a replacement for substantive, structural change in the workplace. Therapy can't fix sexual harassment at work, it can't fix discrimination at work, it can't fix retaliation or wage inequality or worse.

Yet it's being treated as a go-to. That must end.

As Chelsea said: “When you go to H.R. to seek help & you’re told, ‘Well have you considered counseling?’ that ultimately is communicating that you’re the problem. It’s meant to stop you in your tracks & silence you—it certainly made me stop & pause."

Join us in calling for an end to the reflexive use of EAP.

Therapy is great. Work-provided therapy is essential. It should be offered universally.

But it cannot become a cure-all for issues that require new policies at work. That's not what it's for. justice-for-jessica.com