Various female employees of the World Economic Forum (WEF) have come forward with accusations against its founder, Klaus Schwab, alleging sexual harassment and the creation of a hostile work environment. The allegations, brought to light by an investigation conducted by The Wall Street Journal, have cast a shadow over Schwab’s long-standing leadership at the influential global organization.
The accusations detail a range of inappropriate behaviors and decisions by Schwab that have reportedly impacted many female employees. One of the key allegations involves Schwab’s alleged directive to dismiss employees aged over 50 in a bid to lower the average age of the workforce. When Paolo Gallo, the WEF’s HR chief at the time, refused to comply without valid performance-related reasons, Schwab reportedly terminated his employment.
In a particularly troubling incident from 2017, Schwab is accused of dismissing a young woman who was leading a startup initiative after she informed him of her pregnancy. Schwab allegedly expressed displeasure that her pregnancy would affect her work pace and subsequently let her go after a brief trial period.
Numerous female staffers have reported facing career setbacks or being pushed out of the organization after becoming pregnant or returning from maternity leave. These allegations suggest a broader pattern of discrimination against women within the WEF under Schwab’s leadership.
One woman, identified as Myriam Boussina, recounted her experience, saying, “I knew he liked me and I knew he found me pretty. Every man with a lot of power, they think that they can get any woman and they are not ashamed.” Another former employee, who worked at the WEF in the 2010s, highlighted the pressure to conform to certain physical standards, stating, “There was a lot of pressure to be good-looking and wear tight dresses. Never in my career have I experienced looks being such an important topic as in the Forum.”
Beyond the allegations of discriminatory practices, several women have accused Schwab and other senior managers of sexual harassment. These incidents reportedly involved suggestive comments and inappropriate behavior, with some senior managers allegedly remaining at the Forum despite these accusations.
One staffer claimed Schwab made suggestive comments and physically posed suggestively in front of her, at one point mentioning he wished she was Hawaiian to see her in a costume. Schwab is also reported to have said on multiple occasions, “I need to find you a man, and if I were not married, I would put myself on the top of that list.”
Klaus Schwab has vehemently denied all allegations of misconduct. A spokesperson for the WEF stated, “Mr. Schwab does not and has never engaged in the vulgar behaviors you describe,” adding that the Journal’s reporting mischaracterizes the organization, its culture, and its founder. Schwab himself has insisted that he behaved professionally at all times.
Under Schwab’s leadership, the WEF has aggressively promoted the idea of a ‘Great Reset,’ advocating for significant global changes to address economic inequality, climate change, and other pressing issues. Critics, however, argue that the initiative aims to replace democratic governments with a system of global governance akin to communist China.
The allegations against Klaus Schwab have sparked a significant controversy, raising questions about the culture within one of the world’s most influential economic forums. As the investigation continues and more details emerge, the impact of these accusations on Schwab’s legacy and the future of the WEF remains to be seen.
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