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To: Netflix CEO Reed Hastings

Tell Netflix CEO Reed Hastings that gender & pregnancy discrimination is wrong

Netflix, no parent should be discriminated against for taking parental leave. Stop firing or forcing women out who are pregnant!

Why is this important?

My name is Lisa, and I'm an actor and a mom who has acted on multiple Netflix shows.
Throughout my career, I’ve watched as women across my industry (writers, producers, actors, and tech workers) have been discriminated against as soon as they decide to start a family. That must end. Now.

This month, former Netflix manager Tania Zarak bravely spoke out after she was fired by Netflix. When Tania told her boss that she was pregnant, Tania says her boss began isolating her, excluding her from meetings, and even removing her from Netflix shows. After enduring this treatment for weeks, Tania did what we’re supposed to do - complain to HR. But she said Netflix HR notified her boss, who became angry and called her in for a meeting. That’s when Tania’s boss asked when her due date was and encouraged her to quit. Tania refused. Incredibly, the next day, Tania’s boss fired her.[1]

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

I’ve watched this happen again and again, but didn't expect this from Netflix, the largest and most profitable company in our industry, especially now in the #MeToo #TimesUp era.

Despite boasting about its leave policy while recruiting potential employees, Netflix has a track record of inequity on this issue. A former Netflix HR director alleged that as Netflix promotes its leave policy, behind closed doors, Netflix secretly pressures and forces out employees who get pregnant and/or take leave because Netflix HR executives said that “women in particular that take such time are not serious about their careers.”[2] Netflix also previously only provided paid parental leave to some employees, leading workers in its DVD department to launch a public campaign to pressure Netflix to offer paid family leave for all employees.[3]

The casts and crews on sets I’ve worked on have been treated with respect and humanity. I want to know that this culture extends to all divisions of a company that I work for, and support with my subscription dollars, as I'm guessing many of you do as well.

What happened to Tania is especially awful because Netflix hides its actions behind its family leave policy. It's not enough for Netflix to offer family leave if Netflix then retaliates and fires employees who become pregnant and try to take it!

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION & SHOW NETFLIX THAT WE STAND WITH TANIA AND WORKING MOMS WHO STAND UP TO DISCRIMINATION.

[1] https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6882153/Former-Netflix-manager-39-sues-streaming-giant-claiming-fired-pregnant.html

[2] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/netflix-settles-executive-claiming-widespread-sexual-harassment-1050313

[3] https://www.coworker.org/petitions/netfix-extend-paid-parental-leave-policy-to-all-employees

Updates

2019-05-23 08:42:39 -0400

1,000 signatures reached

2019-05-21 17:00:06 -0400

500 signatures reached

2019-05-21 07:02:14 -0400

100 signatures reached

2019-05-20 16:07:27 -0400

50 signatures reached

2019-05-19 00:09:03 -0400

25 signatures reached

2019-05-16 15:49:42 -0400

10 signatures reached