Long term Suns employee resigns after citing ‘misogynistic’ work place

With this recent developments now public, Suns owner Robert Sarver and the workplace environment that he has created and maintained are once again under the microscope. What happens from here is anybody’s guess.

Phoenix Suns employee resigns after citing misogyny

According to reports, a woman who has worked with the franchise since 2007 penned her resignation in May of this year, after alleging that the workplace culture is toxic and misogynistic. It is understood that she sent a detailed letter explaining her decision to a number of members of the team’s ownership group.

In the letter, Melissa Fender Panagiotakopoulos disclosed that the organization had “never been more dysfunctional, and the culture is rapidly eroding.” Panagiotakopoulos also indicated that “Over many years, it has become clear to me that the Suns organization does not place the same value on developing women in its workforce, or even on ensuring they are treated equally as compared to their male counterparts.” If those allegations weren’t serious enough, Panagiotakopoulos also added that the Suns paid a male counterpart a higher salary and gave him more flexibility by giving him the option to work from home. She then explained that by contrast she was not allowed to do the same, despite being a working mother. After voicing her concerns about the situation to the team’s HR and legal departments, Panagiotakopoulos alleges that she faced retaliation and bullying from her fellow colleagues.

Where do the Phoenix Suns and the NBA stand on the situation?

With the previous investigation - it remains ‘ongoing’ - into Suns owner Robert Sarver’s interaction with his staff now well documented, it was always going to be interesting to hear what the Suns themselves had to say. According to their statement, “We have been made aware of allegations by a former employee and are investigating them, consistent with our Respect in the Workplace Policy. The Phoenix Suns are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment free of discrimination and harassment, and we do not tolerate retaliation for the reporting of alleged misconduct.” What remains unclear, however, is whether or not this most recent development will be factored into the NBA’s investigation into the franchise’s workplace environment. Indeed, there were even calls for Sarver’s resignation earlier this year.

As for the NBA itself, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said as recently as April that while there is no timeline on the league’s investigation, it is nearing an end. “The investigation is ongoing,” Silver said. “I mean, these type of investigations do take a lot of time. You want to ensure that you gather all of the facts and you also want to ensure that you protect the rights of the accused. So we want to err on the side of being very complete. We’re certainly closer to the end than the beginning, but it’s hard to put a precise timeline on it right now.”