Most surprising to some about the Kleiner Perkins trial was how the venture capital firm framed the gifting by a partner of plaintiff Ellen Pao with a book of erotic poetry as “innocent,” and the revelation that the firm had no sexual discrimination policy in place.
“It is the exception not to have a sexual discrimination policy,” said Bennett Pine, attorney and chair of Anderson Kill’s employment and labor group. “Every company should have one, and it should say the company is against it and any complaints of discrimination or harassment should be brought to its attention.”