Senior Volvo Cars executive continued in high position despite alleged harassment of female Indian coworkers

In a shocking turn of events, three women of Indian ethnicity lodged a complaint against a high-ranking manager at Volvo in May 2024. The women, Veda, Arti, and Rani, bravely agreed to be named and detailed their harrowing experiences of sexual harassment.

The company, known for its zero-tolerance approach towards such behaviour, chose to move the manager to another high-ranking position in October 2024, rather than terminating him. Volvo explained that a redeployment was decided as a sanction for the manager in this particular case.

The accusations against the manager were grave. Veda reported an inappropriate physical advance during a team night out, Arti claimed she was groped in an office corridor, and Rani said she was forced to endure a kiss against her will during an after-work gathering. Seven other employees, who worked closely with the manager in Gothenburg, also reported that he often crossed professional and ethical boundaries, making sexually inappropriate jokes and making people feel uncomfortable.

Volvo launched an internal investigation into the manager's behaviour following the combined complaint submitted by the three women and another anonymous complaint from a male colleague on behalf of Arti. However, the investigation was delayed for almost four months, keeping the manager in his role at the company's main factory complex in Torslanda, outside Gothenburg.

During the investigation, Veda took meticulous notes of her meetings with Labour Affairs staff and shared them with those present to ensure agreement on what was said. Despite her efforts, the Labour Affairs team could not confirm the details of the conclusion of the investigation. Volvo declined to comment on why it had taken so long to conclude its investigation, nor would it confirm what, if any, sanction the manager had received.

The women were not provided with a written record of the conclusion of Volvo's internal investigation by the Labour Affairs department. Volvo stated that it regularly informs employees and managers about their rights and responsibilities to contribute to a good and professional working environment, and how to report any violations.

The decision to keep the manager in his role for months before the investigation was concluded was met with criticism. Karmini Sharma, an assistant professor at Imperial College London, described the decision as "mind boggling."

Despite the investigation, Arti's contract was initially terminated by the manager, but Volvo bosses later reversed the decision and reinstated her contract. Arti and Rani were informed that their complaints of sexual harassment had been upheld, but Veda was told that the manager's behaviour had remained within acceptable boundaries.

This incident highlights the importance of prompt and thorough investigations into allegations of sexual harassment. It also underscores the need for companies to take such allegations seriously and to ensure that those accused are held accountable for their actions.

Senior Volvo Cars executive continued in high position despite alleged harassment of female Indian coworkers