Microsoft is in a harassment row

AN EXECUTIVE at Redmond software house Microsoft has been accused of being a nasty piece of work around the office and making disparaging comments about the Japanese tsunami.

The man, who is still a VP at Microsoft according to a report on the Telegraph is accused of saying some pretty mean things, including, "I would have zero pity for Japan. I would push them right under the bus and create another tsunami."

According to legal filings, the VP is "known throughout the company for his disparaging comments about different nationalities," and is apparently less than charming while being reasonably successful at work.

The alleged remarks have come to light in the fallout of another case that claimed that Microsoft executive Michael Mercieca sexually harassed former colleague Tracy Rummel.

Rummel's complaint was not upheld but Mercieca is suing Microsoft, Rummel, and a second woman called Lori Aulds for slander and discrimination.

Mercieca claims that various managers at Microsoft "subjected him to isolation and ostracised him, undermined him vis-a-vis other employees and his customers and subjected him to a hostile work environment," reports the Telegraph.

It is presumably in of the description of this "hostile work environment" that the comments about Japan and the tsunami can be found, and in a statement Microsoft looked to distance itself from any suggestions that this sort of thing would be just fine within its walls.

"Microsoft would find any comment of this nature to be deplorable and in no way representative of our culture and values, let alone our response to this natural disaster to which the company and our employees have donated significant sums to aid relief efforts," a spokesman for Microsoft said in response.

Recently Microsoft was the subject of claims that its UK offices were loutish and boozy. µ