Johnson claims retaliation by JWT after high-profile whistle blowing
Erin Johnson blew the whistle on her boss at J. Walter Thompson eight months ago, and it’s still causing plenty of problems for her. The worldwide PR chief at the company made claims against her boss, CEO Gustavo Martinez, for making "an unending stream of racist and sexist comments" that made her job as global head of PR for JWT "virtually impossible." Johnson's suit, which named both the JWT organization and Martinez as defendants, has yet to be resolved.
After taking a leave of absence, which saw Martinez resign in March and replaced by WPP chief client team officer Tamara Ingram, Johnson returned to work on November 2, reporting directly to Ingram.
According to a story by Adweek, Johnson’s return to JWT has been less than rosy. She said that the short time she has been back has been like being placed “in a box” with little work to do and a looming sense of being an outcast, as a letter from the lawyers representing Johnson filed in court. The legal team wanted to discuss with a judge a potential injunction that would stop the agency from “unlawful conduct” in her current work situation.
The firm, Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, claims that JWT is making Johnson’s work situation unpleasant to try and get her to resign. The letter said that Ingram has put Johnson in an awkward position by seating her in a cubicle directly in front of the head of Human Resources, making it “clear that Johnson would no longer be permitted to do anything that resembled the duties of her prior position as chief communications officer…Johnson has virtually no work to do... As a result of defendants' retaliatory actions, plaintiff is nothing more than a pariah at JWT."
The lawyers now claim JWT and its leadership engaged in "multiple acts of retaliation" against Johnson and "attacked her personally" during her leave of absence, and claims that since returning to work, Johnson has experienced "demeaning treatment" designed to prevent her from interacting with co-workers.
"Defendants' mistreatment of plaintiff is designed to deter witnesses" who might testify on her behalf, read the letter, claiming that sources confirmed to Johnson that those plans "have succeeded."
Johnson reportedly tried to find out exactly the work she would be doing when she returned, but the agency "dismissed [her] legitimate questions" by saying that her job would be exactly the same as it was before the lawsuit was filed, according to her lawyers.
The letter also states that JWT unjustly blamed Johnson's "refusal to assume many of her former responsibilities” and claims that Ingram "chided" Johnson for bringing negative attention to the agency by returning to work.
A JWT spokesperson, when asked for comment on the matter, wrote, "We will respond to the request at the appropriate time in the court proceeding."