IBM sexual harassment case set for Court, law firm flags other cases against computer giant

IBM says it will vigorously defend itself against a $1.1 million harassment case, as the claimant’s lawyer flags other cases against the IT giant.

Susan Spiteri, a former senior salesperson for IBM who joined the company in 1999, says she tried to kill herself after allegedly being sexually harassed and bullied for nearly two years by her former supervisor, who resigned from IBM in August 2009.

In a statement of claim to the Federal Court, Spiteri says she informed managers and colleagues of the harassment by her supervisor, which included calling her mobile phone after hours, insulting and abusing her, badmouthing her to clients, touching her, and telling her to “get those boobies out and get sales”.

The claim says Spiteri’s distress was frequently visible in the workplace. It also says Spiteri was told by IBM employees to return to work and never mention the allegations again, and urged not to leave the company as she was one of its best sales people.

The statement of claim says she has suffered depression and hospitalisation, and is seeking compensation for past economic loss, loss of future earnings, out of pocket medical expenses and damage to reputation.

Spiteri remains an IBM employee but has not worked for two years. She told the ABC: “At the moment I can’t think that far ahead, I can’t even think for next week because there are days where I don’t leave home.”

A spokesperson for IBM says the company “does not tolerate harassment of any type”.

“The claimant remains an employee of IBM and continues to receive comprehensive benefits and support. The person against whom the harassment allegations were made left IBM two years ago,” the spokesperson says.

“We will vigorously defend ourselves in Court.”

The company has not yet filed a response to Spiteri’s statement of claim.

Spiteri’s lawyer, Siobhan Keating of Maurice Blackburn, told the ABC this morning “there are a number of cases on foot against IBM” since the Spiteri case was first aired in April. Maurice Blackburn confirmed this morning it was working on another case against the firm.

Keating has also said that it’s “not enough for companies like IBM to have the right policies in place if they’re not enforced”.

The IBM spokesperson did not respond to allegations that other harassment claims had been made against the company.

Spiteri told the ABC she wants to “encourage other victims of sexual harassment to be strong and come forward and stick up for themselves.”

When the claim first emerged in April, Maurice Blackburn said it would initiate Federal Court proceedings should the case fail to get resolved at the Human Rights Commission.

SmartCompany attempted to contact Spiteri’s supervisor before publication. He had previously directed questions to IBM.