Several CVS executives have been fired following an internal investigation that revealed they botched the handling of sexual harassment allegations among company ranks.
Karen Lynch, the CEO of the pharmacy chain, cleaned house after she became aware of complaints against a New Jersey regional manager accused of harassing and inappropriately touching at least two female employees.
According to the Journal, the allegations also led the CEO to overhaul the company’s sexual harassment policy.
The New Jersey-based manager-managed hundreds of CVS locations, and Lynch personally spearheaded the investigation into allegations against the manager, the New York Post reported.
Following the investigation, Lynch ordered the manager’s dismissal in January as well as several of the manager’s superiors. However, the people fired haven’t been named by the publication.
On Friday, Lynch informed nearly 450 senior leaders employed at the company of her decision. She also announced that CVS would offer its employees a confidential channel through which they can bring forth their complaints of harassment.
“We absolutely do not tolerate behavior or actions that are harassing, hostile, abusive, or discriminatory,” CVS said in a statement to The Post.
“In late 2021 we received an anonymous report alleging misconduct by one of our field management colleagues. After a thorough investigation conducted with an outside independent firm, we quickly terminated the individual and others have since been exited from the company for failing to treat allegations with the seriousness we expect.”
In 2017, a CVS security worker was busted for allegedly taking shoplifters to a back room of the store and convincing them to strip naked so that they wouldn’t get arrested.
