https://sputnikglobe.com/20230630/report-applicants-for-bill-gates-private-office-were-allegedly-asked-sexually-explicit-questions-1111561418.html
Report: Applicants for Bill Gates’ Private Office Were Allegedly Asked Sexually Explicit Questions
Report: Applicants for Bill Gates’ Private Office Were Allegedly Asked Sexually Explicit Questions
Sputnik International
A new report claims that applicants for Bill Gates' private office were asked sexually explicit questions before being hired. The applicants were interviewed by a third party, the report claims.
2023-06-30T01:27+0000
2023-06-30T01:27+0000
2023-06-30T01:25+0000
americas
bill gates
sexual harassment
workplace
toxic workplace culture
https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111205296_0:159:3078:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_d51c861a23f0bb90e6b42dfad3a2c9a4.jpg
A report by a US media has claimed that female applicants who interviewed for Gates Ventures were asked sexually explicit questions, as well as questions about their drug use and other intensely personal aspects of their lives that might have indicated they were vulnerable to blackmail.The questions reportedly touched on whether job candidates were ever involved in extramarital affairs, their pornography preferences, or if they had nude images of themselves on their phones. The report further notes that some candidates were asked if they ever "danced for dollars" or contracted a sexually transmitted disease.The questions, according to a Gates Ventures spokeswoman, were conducted by third-party contractor Concentric Advisors, which describes itself as a private risk consultancy firm that specializes in strategic security and intelligence services for physical and cyber needs. The report noted the screenings were done in recent years.“This line of questioning would be unacceptable and a violation of Gates Ventures’ agreement with the contractor” who must comply with pre-employment screening laws, the spokeswoman said, adding she never heard about Concentric Advisors asking such questions.A spokesperson for Concentric has also denied that their company asked such questions as were claimed by applicants. It was also detailed Concentric has several former Central Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation officials on its staff.An official with the company explained that its security screenings are part of an effort to assess whether a candidate is “truthful,” and if they are vulnerable to “blackmail, which often starts with voluntary statements by the candidate with follow-up questions by company interviewers.”However, candidates told the outlet they were directly asked about the personal information, adding they were told job offers depended on them passing the assessments.The report also highlights how investigators reviewed a consent form that said a behavioral assessment would be conducted by Concentric to assess suitability for employment at Gates’ private office, and that it would include drug and alcohol history, as well as past medical and psychiatric history.The form, the report claims, asked for a signature from candidates in order to allow for the disclosure of results to Gates’ private office, and in one section reads it would not “allow for the re-disclosure of sexually transmitted diseases.”Miaskoff stated that any questions related to a candidate’s health or psychiatric history during a hiring process is “just flat out prohibited by the federal Americans With Disabilities Act.”“I have never encountered that kind of questioning in a pre-employment background investigation in the private sector,” added Daniel Karson, a security industry veteran and former executive for business investigations firm Kroll Associates, referring to the questions related to sexual or medical history.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230522/report-jeffrey-epstein-allegedly-tried-to-extort-bill-gates-over-extramarital-affair-1110526821.html
americas
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“
2023
Mary Manley
https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg
Mary Manley
https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg
News
en_EN
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“
Mary Manley
https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg
bill gates, us, report, sexual harassment, workplace sexual harassment
bill gates, us, report, sexual harassment, workplace sexual harassment
Report: Applicants for Bill Gates’ Private Office Were Allegedly Asked Sexually Explicit Questions
Gates Ventures, formally known as bgC3 until 2018, is Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates’ private office and is separate from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Microsoft.
A
report by a US media has claimed that female applicants who interviewed for Gates Ventures were asked sexually explicit questions, as well as questions about their drug use and other intensely personal aspects of their lives that might have indicated they were vulnerable to blackmail.
The questions reportedly touched on whether job candidates were ever involved in extramarital affairs, their pornography preferences, or if they had nude images of themselves on their phones. The report further notes that some candidates were asked if they ever "danced for dollars" or contracted a sexually transmitted disease.
The questions, according to a Gates Ventures spokeswoman, were conducted by third-party contractor Concentric Advisors, which describes itself as a private risk consultancy firm that specializes in strategic security and intelligence services for physical and cyber needs. The report noted the screenings were done in recent years.
“This line of questioning would be unacceptable and a violation of Gates Ventures’ agreement with the contractor” who must comply with pre-employment screening laws, the spokeswoman said, adding she never heard about Concentric Advisors asking such questions.
“We have never received information from any vendor or interviewee in our 15+ year history that inappropriate questions were asked during the screening process,” she said in a statement. “We can confirm, that after a comprehensive review of our records, no employment offer has ever been rescinded based on information of this nature.”
A spokesperson for
Concentric has also denied that their company asked such questions as were claimed by applicants. It was also detailed Concentric has several former Central Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation officials on its staff.
An official with the company explained that its security screenings are part of an effort to assess whether a candidate is “truthful,” and if they are vulnerable to “blackmail, which often starts with voluntary statements by the candidate with follow-up questions by company interviewers.”
However, candidates told the outlet they were directly asked about the personal information, adding they were told job offers depended on them passing the assessments.
The report also highlights how investigators reviewed a consent form that said a behavioral assessment would be conducted by Concentric to assess suitability for employment at Gates’ private office, and that it would include drug and alcohol history, as well as past medical and psychiatric history.
The form, the report claims, asked for a signature from candidates in order to allow for the disclosure of results to Gates’ private office, and in one section reads it would not “allow for the re-disclosure of sexually transmitted diseases.”
“There’s not a black letter law prohibition on asking questions related to sex,” but “getting the information and taking some adverse action with that information” could be cause for legal action, Carol Miaskoff, legal counsel of the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionl told the outlet.
Miaskoff stated that any questions related to a candidate’s health or psychiatric history during a hiring process is “just flat out prohibited by the federal Americans With Disabilities Act.”
“I have never encountered that kind of questioning in a pre-employment background investigation in the private sector,” added Daniel Karson, a security industry veteran and former executive for business investigations firm Kroll Associates, referring to the questions related to sexual or medical history.
In 2019, Bill Gates was investigated by Microsoft board members over allegations that he had an affair with a Microsoft employee for years. Bill and Melinda Gates then divorced in 2021, after being married for nearly three decades.
Last month it was also revealed that convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who died while awaiting trial on federal conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, had threatened to expose Gates in 2017 for an affair he had with a Russian bridge player named Mila Antonova, which was an unsuccessful leverage, Gates spokespeople said.
