Vince McMahon Breaks His Own WWE Corporate Code Of Conduct?
Will board investigations find Vince McMahon in violation of his own in-house WWE policies?
The ongoing WWE board investigations into misconduct allegations against Vince McMahon may find, if there's evidence to support any of the alleged claims, that the Chairman is in violation of a specific code of conduct.
WWE.com's corporate site lists the following;
“It is the policy of WWE to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a Vietnam -era or special disabled veteran in accordance with applicable Federal law. In addition, WWE complies with applicable state and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment in each locality in which it maintains offices or facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation and training. WWE is committed to maintaining a work environment that furthers the development of all its employees, encourages cooperation and teamwork, provides a pleasant work environment and provides fair and ethical treatment of all employment issues. As part of this commitment, WWE is dedicated to providing a work environment that is free from harassment, whether that harassment is premised on sex, race, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin or any other legally protected basis. Harassment creates working conditions that are wholly inconsistent with WWE’s commitment to its personnel.
It lists the following as examples of the above;
- Interfering with a person’s ability to perform his/her job, or creating an offensive work environment through insulting or degrading remarks, gestures, propositions, jokes, tricks, displays of sexually suggestive or other offensive symbols, objects or pictures or similar conduct related to a legally protected basis, including sex, race or sexual orientation.
- Inappropriate physical touching.
- The grant or offer of an employment quid pro quo for personal intimacy.
- Any threat of, or actual, retaliation against any person for reporting or filing claims of unlawful harassment”
The "quid pro quo" stipulation specifically could be what factors in to the investigation in this case. As a reminder, McMahon and John Laurinatis are being investigated by the WWE board of directors following allegations from an anonymous source relating to a prior consensual sexual relationship McMahon had with a female ex-employee, as well as historic non disclosure agreements relating to other female ex-employees.