Neuralink Faces Lawsuit After Employee Alleges Forced Work with Herpes-Infected Monkeys

Photo : Bloomberg

An employee at Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain-implant startup, has filed a lawsuit alleging mistreatment and wrongful termination after disclosing her pregnancy to supervisors. Lindsay Short claims that after transferring to Neuralink's Fremont, California site in August 2022, she faced a hostile work environment marked by blame, shame, and unrealistic deadlines.

According to Short, her duties at Neuralink included working with monkeys infected with the Herpes B virus, where she was exposed to unsafe conditions leading to scratches on her bare skin. She accused the company of neglecting to provide adequate protective gear for handling these animals. Additionally, Short stated that she was pressured into performing unfamiliar procedures, resulting in a monkey scratching her face. When she requested medical attention, her supervisor allegedly threatened severe consequences if similar incidents recurred.

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The lawsuit also alleges that Neuralink reneged on promises of flexible working hours to accommodate Short's family needs. Despite being promoted in March 2023, she was demoted just two months later. In June 2023, after informing Neuralink's human resources department of her pregnancy, Short claims she was terminated the next day, purportedly for performance-related reasons.

Neuralink, currently involved in clinical trials aimed at developing brain-computer interface technology to aid paralyzed patients, has faced criticism in the past for its treatment of animals during research. The startup previously conducted experiments at the University of California, Davis, which reportedly resulted in botched surgeries on monkeys. Subsequently, Neuralink moved its animal research operations to its own facilities.

The lawsuit filed by Lindsay Short against Neuralink seeks redress for retaliation, wrongful termination, and gender discrimination, highlighting broader concerns about workplace conditions and employee rights at the forefront of innovative technological ventures.