EEOC says Cisco created hostile environment for Muslim and Arab staff
The U.S. EEOC concluded that Cisco allowed anti-Arab and anti-Muslim harassment to flourish after employees protested the firm’s sales to Israel.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a determination that Cisco violated civil-rights laws by permitting anti-Arab and anti-Muslim harassment after a group of staff called Bridge to Humanity raised concerns about the company’s technology being used by the Israeli military. The EEOC’s letter, references a 76-page report documenting hateful comments in an internal messaging channel and the termination of an employee involved in pro-Palestine activities.
The complaint, filed in December 2024, was brought by Legal Aid at Work, which has also filed separate grievances with the National Labor Relations Board and the California Labor Commissioner. Civil-rights organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations praised the decision, calling it an important affirmation of federal protections. Cisco has not responded to requests for comment, and EEOC mediation with the company has yet to produce a resolution.
Why it matters
It shows how U.S. civil-rights law can hold major tech firms accountable for workplace discrimination tied to geopolitical issues.
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