Evidently the VP who vanished months ago is now suing 3M for racial and gender discrimination.
22 replies (most recent on top)
The individual involved was incredibly toxic, having worked with her in multiple roles - always drama and disorganization while her employees all talked trash behind her back and had zero respect for her. I’d personally go to court defending against her negligence and I’m no longer a fan of the company.
@1jb I get this perspective. I work in this lab and management doesn't allow us to go talk to actual users. They will go and have "user feedback" sessions where they market their ideas and tell users they don't know what they want. It's gross and so disappointing. We have people in the lab whose job it is to talk to users and understand their needs, but they're being steamrolled by management at every turn.
Regarding the topic of this thread—she was an abject disaster. She left failure everywhere she left, and brought misery everywhere she went. If anything, someone should’ve reported the people she’s suing for subjecting her to CRSL.
That said, as the poster below pointed out, CRSL has been a money-su-king graveyard for years. It was a boondoggle before she arrived, likely beyond saving. I work in a financially starved product development group in a BG, and CRSL is notorious for shooting down our requests by telling us we’re stupid for asking, then wasting capital and talent on ridiculous projects.
Let me guess… are your jeans blue?
What a ridiculous statement. White people and men are not inherently "better suited" for corporate jobs. If anything, systemic biases give those groups an advantage in the workplace, so that they end up being overrepresented.
@136 The “old white man” seems to think he can do anything with impunity (if I am thinking of the same “old white man”). He made many mistakes (ear plugs), only promotes sycophants, and more. I know many people in Legal or were in Legal (including close family members) and they have nothing good to say about this person. I have 30 years in and am glad I can retire. There is no Code of Conduct at 3M any longer.
@d5 Consider the possibility that they were just better, as men and white are by average better suited for corpojobs. Inequality of outcome does not mean discrimination.
The old white man in legal affairs took renee Dotson and Shauna Macdougal on the most brazen boondoggle to the uk to attend his daughter’s wedding. On 3M’s money!! Yes that just happened. Renee was stupid enough to paste it all over viva (now deleted) ironically the comments are still there. Look for posts on July 16. She also has another gushing post worth seeing…
Loot at VPs, SVPs and EVPs and their equivalents in 3M HQ. The data is quite obvious. It used to be more biased before Covid, but 3M tried to be a bit more inclusive in the last 5 years or so.
@qr
Uhhhh-old white men run 3M? Better take a look, pronoun: https://investors.3m.com/governance/board-of-directors
She was a train wreck who personally went after the jobs of some people that were good and hard working because they wouldn’t agree with the guy who was manipulating her down the hall. A DEI hire that had past issues, and training, that continued to exhibit cr-p behaviour. For those of us that worked with her in the past we are not surprised. I’d bet money she is one of the posters in this thread.
It is a fact that 3M has been dominated by old, white, men. They have always run things their way. There is no doubt that there is a lot of racism, esp. at management ranks where promotion criteria have always been murky at best !
It's time someone raised these issues and brought them into limelight.
@e2 I, too, welcome in investigation of 3M’s leadership. No one is above the law. Too many 3M employees have to deal with toxic leaders knowing if they complain HR or Ethics and Compliance will do nothing. It is time 3M leaders are held accountable when they create a toxic and hostile work environment.
@e2 My manager made disrespectful comments about my nationality and more. My manager also bullied, harassed, micromanaged and gaslighted me. I submitted a complaint but I was told I did not substantiate my claims. I am sure I, too, will face retaliation when I have my review. I hope I can get another job in the Twin Cities before that happens. I also hope this legal action will protect me for awhile but am not sure if that is how the legal system works.
Well, shucks. If the SVP or EVP end up censured or leave their posts hastily as a result of this debacle, who will fill the much-needed gap in sports metaphors and basketball team updates to buoy the spirits of CRL and provide critical direction??
On a different note, I would say that in my ~25 managers, directors, and VPs I have reported to and through over the years, there is plenty of bad behavior that may not qualify as racist or misogynistic, but certainly is self-serving and not in the interest of the company's longterm health.
Regardless of whether this lawsuit is merited or spurious, I welcome any investigation that makes leadership recognize they are not above either the actual law or the law of common decency and good behavior.
I know for a fact there were employee submitted HR complaints about the managers below her, but nothing about her. And those managers are still here sc--wing things up.
@b6 I know Mike Kesti has a history of s-xist and misogynist behavior. When he was VP in PSD he promoted all the white men reporting to him, many did not deserve it, yet highly deserving non-white females were either pushed out of the division or overlooked for a promotion. So, based on my experience with this individual I am not surprised by this lawsuit.
I can say that even with her gone, the management problems in this lab still remain. She wasn't perfectly suited for this role but she also wasn't the root of the issues.
The “report a problem with your colleague” get dinged on your end of year review happens to at least 2 women I know of…
You can read a copy of the complaint here, by searching her name:
https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch
Allegedly…
In Sept 2024 she submitted a formal report of discrimination against her supervisor. By the end of the year, HR dismissed her allegation as unsubstantiated and shocker she was now under investigation by HR for her own behavior. In January 2025 she received a “needs improvement” in her performance review and was told she herself violated 3M’s respectful workplace principle. She was terminated from her position and told she had just one week to find another VP job in 3M.
https://www.law.com/radar/card/minnesota-ramseycounty-2376435-jennifer-yi-v-3m-company-john-banovetz-mike-kesti-brian-ronningen-linda-kiester/
any more details available? what's the story?
This person escaped from Room 101 in BBs orwellian world. Me too days are over. The Party (BB) will not be denied. Bend the knee and kiss the ring. Just accept your fate. All is well.