Washington’s NFL team may not have a name, but owner Dan Snyder is ready to establish a “new culture.”
In a statement responding to Thursday’s Washington Post report about former Redskins officials alleging a climate of sexual harassment and verbal abuse inside the club, Snyder said he would restructure the organization to create a better workplace environment.
“The behavior described in yesterday’s Washington Post article has no place in our franchise or society,” Snyder said on Friday. “This story has strengthened my commitment to setting a new culture and standard for our team, a process that began with the hiring of Coach Rivera earlier this year.”
Dan Snyder: pic.twitter.com/xlRD1c23UD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 17, 2020
Coach Ron Riviera, who was hired this off-season after a stint as the Carolina Panthers’ coach, is well liked in the league and is seen as a step in the right direction for fans of the team.
More than a dozen women came forward to share their stories of sexual harassment and verbal abuse while working for the Washington football team. One woman, Emily Applegate, said she was told to wear form-fitting clothing to help boost sales with potential clients.
Snyder highlighted the club’s decision to hire lawyer Beth Wilkinson to review the internal climate at the organization.
“Beth Wilkinson and her firm are empowered to do a full, unbiased investigation and make any and all requisite recommendations,” Snyder’s statement continued. “Upon completion of her work, we will institute new policies and procedures and strengthen our human resources infrastructure to not only avoid these issues in the future but most importantly create a team culture that is respectful and inclusive of all.”
Several top executives with the club resigned days before the article was published, and Snyder’s role could be in jeopardy too as several owners of other franchises are rumored to be upset with the news and the team’s poor performance in one of the league’s top media markets.
