Bezos's Blue Origin employees allege sexism and unsafe flight standards

Former and current employees report a 'toxic environment' taking a toll on mental health

Jeff Bezos, billionaire founder of Amazon and space tourism company Blue Origin, watches a video playback of his flight experience from the spaceport near Van Horn, Texas. AP

The US Federal Aviation Administration said it will probe billionaire Jeff Bezos’s space firm Blue Origin over safety concerns raised by the company’s former and current employees.

Alexandra Abrams, former head of Blue Origin employee communications, and 20 other unnamed employees made the charges in a letter that was sent to the FAA before being published on the whistle-blowing website, Lioness.

They also reported a “toxic environment” at the company and accused its top management of promoting a culture of sexism, adding that the work culture at Blue Origin has taken a “toll on the mental health” of many employees.

“Former and current employees … are terrified of the potential consequences for speaking out against the wealthiest man on the planet. Others have experienced periods of suicidal thoughts after having their passion for space manipulated in such a toxic environment.”

Others expressed concerns over placing the need to beat Richard Branson and Elon Musk in the space race before taking proper safety precautions.

“We have seen a pattern of decision-making that often prioritises execution speed and cost reduction over the appropriate resourcing to ensure quality,” the complaint said.

“Blue Origin has been lucky that nothing has happened so far … in 2018, when one team lead took over, the team had documented more than 1,000 problem reports related to the engines that power Blue Origin’s rockets which had never been addressed,” it added.

The FAA — the country’s largest transport agency that regulates all aspects of civil aviation - said it “takes every safety allegation seriously, and the agency is reviewing the information".

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  Billionaire businessman Jeff Bezos embraces veteran aviator Wally Funk after Blue Origin’s reusable New Shepard craft capsule returned from space on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

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  Jeff Bezos, Funk and and gap-year student Oliver Daemen, 18, disembark after Blue Origin’s reusable New Shepard capsule returned from space.

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  Jeff Bezos disembarks after the flight.

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  New Shepard touches down on Earth.

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  New Shepard approaches the ground.

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  The capsule carrying Jeff Bezos and three crew members returns to Texas by parachute.

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  The booster rocket returns to the launch pad.

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  The rocket lifts off.

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  The launch viewed from far.

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  The rocket is launched on the world’s first unpiloted suborbital flight.

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  It took off from Blue Origin’s launch site, near Van Horn in western Texas, US.

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  Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket is launched from its spaceport.

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  The rocket lift-off.

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  The launch pad. Blue Origin’s first crewed mission was an 11-minute flight from Texas and back. Reaching an altitude of 106 kilometres, it coincided with the 52nd anniversary of the first Moon landing.

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  People watch on a television screen as the rocket sits on the launch pad.

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  The crew members prepare for the flight.

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  The crew members prepare for the flight.

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  Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com, rings a bell before boarding the flight.

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  This still image taken from video by Blue Origin shows Funk, Daemen and the Bezos brothers before they leave for the flight.

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  A monitor in a zone reserved for the media shows Wally Funk being interviewed.

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  This still image taken from video by Blue Origin shows Funk, Jeff and Mark Bezos, and Daemen as they ascend the crew tower for the flight.

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  This still image taken from video by Blue Origin shows, from left, Mark Bezos, Jeff Bezos, Wally Funk and Oliver Daemen as they travel to the launch pad.

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  Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, a private equity executive, Wally Funk and Oliver Daemen pose in an undated photograph.

Blue Origin disputed the allegations and said it stands by its safety record.

“Ms Abrams was dismissed for cause two years ago after repeated warnings for issues involving federal export control regulations,” Blue Origin said.

“We stand by our safety record and believe that [Blue Origin rocket] New Shepard is the safest space vehicle ever designed or built.”

The global space economy, which has attracted many top companies such as Tesla and Amazon, involves various activities such as research and development, space tourism and the utilisation of space.

Mr Bezos shakes hands with Wally Funk, who became the oldest person in space. Reuters

It employs more than 3,600 people.

“The workforce … is mostly male and overwhelmingly white. One-hundred per cent of the senior technical and programme leaders are men,” the complaint against the company said.

“We found many company leaders to be unapproachable and showing clear bias against women. Concerns related to flying New Shepard were consistently shut down and women were demeaned for raising them.”

Memos from senior leadership push employees to their limits, stating that the company needs to “get more out of our employees” and that the employees should consider it a “privilege to be a part of history”.

The company said in response to the complaint that it has no tolerance for discrimination or harassment of any kind.

“We provide numerous avenues for employees, including a 24/7 anonymous hotline and will promptly investigate any new claims of misconduct.”