this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2023
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Linus Tech Tips

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(OP's comment)

I've been in contact with quite a few LMG employees. Many have given me statements about the abuse and sexual harassment Madison endured while working there.

One of them also gave me a recording of this meeting that was never supposed to be released. This is my proof that I have talked to LMG employees and have sources inside. I post this as verification of that fact.

I cannot out these people or give direct quotes out of fear they will suffer consequences, but I hope they come forward publicly even if it means risking their careers.

I can tell you their accounts match hers. And even go into further detail. One person constantly was mentioned more than others, but she's not naming names so I won't either.

She is telling the truth.

This meeting kinda goes along with how she mentioned her being sexually harassed was regarded as he causing drama.

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[–] [email protected] 81 points 1 year ago (2 children)

There is nothing in this audio recording that I find particularly concerning other than James' comment. It sounds just like a standard meeting that I would have had during a morning brief. Knowing the context of James' comment was directed at Linus, who is a close friend, probably smirked and kept on going.

When you add the context of sexual harassment, it doesn't look good and is an inappropriately timed joke. However, nothing about the meeting indicates that it was about sexual harassment in particular from listening to the audio. If I missed it, please inform me.

Maybe it is because I heard these types of conversations frequently, it doesn't seem like a big deal. They even say you can contact a manager, Linus or Yvonne, or the anonymous hotline. So people have options if they have a problem in particular with leadership.

I am not dismissing that sexual harassment may have taken place, but from the context from the audio given, it doesn't appear anyone speaking knows about it.

[–] sab 52 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It does reinforce Madison's claim that they want to keep everything verbal, rather than put things on record with HR.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is a big red flag already. A proper record is needed by any good and fair company.

There is even more concerning part where Linus discussed the order of complaints - first the immediate manager, then Linux/Yvonne, and the only third party HR.

This is big no no for any reputable company. If you feel harassed, you generally go to HR directly, you don't give managers any information.

Such managers are not equipped with HR related situations and by saying your piece to more people, you're ensuring that people you complaint about knows that you're making a complaint and they can use their power and sway you.

This is biggest issue for me in the video which essentially nullified the existence of HR in LMG if they are this far off to employees.

[–] WhipTheLlama 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you feel harassed, you generally go to HR directly, you don't give managers any information.

That's not how it works anywhere I've worked, including some very large companies. As a manager, my team Is supposed to come to me first unless they are uncomfortable doing so.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I'm not 100% sure about the companies you worked with, but I've to go through a lot of training videos in all my companies I worked with. One theme is consistent - you go to your manager when you've work related challenge, but as soon as it comes to sexual harassment, managers are not expected to be equipped in such things and thus approaching the right authority is utmost required.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Isn't timing of this recording when company was at 50 people? Think they haven't gotten to full HR services yet, just HR for payroll and admin. Linus and Yvonne probablyb still handled staff issues directly. Not ideal, but not unexpected.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Same thoughts here, I was hoping it'd be some slam dunk evidence to support the stuff we've heard but if anything it just makes the waters even murkier. There's a 3rd party HR firm involved that she could have gone to? She said only Linuses wife was the HR there.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The audio also indicated that many staff members did not know about the anonymous option

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Same thoughts here, I was hoping it’d be some slam dunk evidence to support the stuff we’ve heard but if anything it just makes the waters even murkier. There’s a 3rd party HR firm involved that she could have gone to? She said only Linuses wife was the HR there.

They did say they would post it "on general chat" to make everyone aware of it...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Probably that Linus' wife managed the relationship with the 3rd party HR. It could be that the 3rd party HR were mainly used for payroll and tax purposes. If they had limited scope, then likely they were not functioning as a real HR department