Los Angeles, California, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In March, the Silence No More Foundation and Founder Stephanie Van de Motter, celebrate National Women’s History Month by educating women about whistleblowers who have become catalysts for positive change, serving as guides for others. The Foundation also commends State Senator Karen Keizer (D-WA) for introducing a new bill to expand whistleblower protections throughout Washington State.
Invoice SB 5520 is inspired by Silence No More Act, which came into force in January 2022, and makes it easier for workers to report harassment and abuse in the workplace. The proposed bill in Washington will build on existing #MeToo-era legislation that Senator Keizer also helped sponsor and expand protections to encompass all types of harassment and discrimination. The goal of the new bill is to demand a culture change in the workplace and create a pathway for victims to move forward without fear of losing their jobs or livelihoods.
“Throughout our nation’s history, women have been relentless in advancing civil rights,” Van de Motter said. “It took us almost 100 years to secure our right to vote, but we did it. With women like Karen Keizer at the helm, I am confident that together we can continue to drive positive change and create safer workplaces for women and a safer society for all.
Van de Motter knows firsthand the impact of speaking out in the workplace. In 2020, she became the first person to win a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit against The Irvine Company, one of the nation’s most powerful real estate companies owned by America’s wealthiest real estate baron. Donald Bren.
Before speaking out, Van de Motter worked as a property manager at The Irvine Company’s flagship luxury building in Santa Monica, where celebrities like Britney Spears, Larry David and others lived. Her dream job was abruptly cut short, she was retaliated against and ‘constructively fired’ after she reported fire and building safety code violations that endangered the lives of residents as the company tried address systemic problems of water intrusion and mold. Although she won the lawsuit, Van de Motter still did not receive the compensation awarded to her by an arbitrator, and The Irvine Company blocked her efforts to collect it.
The Silenced No More Foundation recognizes that it takes incredible courage to speak truth to power and that whistleblowers play a crucial role in ending unethical behavior. That’s why, this March, the Foundation honors women of steel for their enormous achievements to mark National Women’s History Month.
To honor the bravery of some of the pioneering women who embarked on the painstaking process of getting a bill passed, the Foundation spotlighted five historic whistleblowers on his blog. Over the coming weeks and months, the Foundation will focus on providing helpful information and resources to whistleblowers, offering counseling and emotional support through curated stories of personal experiences.
To learn more about the Silenced No More Foundation or the story of Stephanie Van de Motter, visit www.silencednomore.org.
About the Silenced No More Foundation
the Silence No More Foundation is the first-of-its-kind online peer-to-peer support network for employee whistleblowers and victims of workplace harassment, discrimination and retaliation. Inspired by California Silence No More Act, the Foundation provides employee whistleblowers with helpful resources, guidance, and the emotional support needed to navigate their difficult journeys. By helping employees understand the whistle-blowing process, the Silenced No More Foundation empowers them to stand up for their rights and hold companies and individuals accountable for illegal workplace activity.
About Stephanie Van de Motter
Stephanie Van de Motter is the first person to win a retaliation and harassment lawsuit against The Irvine Company, California’s largest landowner owned by America’s wealthiest real estate baron, Donald Bren. For years, she managed their star-studded flagship property at 1221 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. When she reported numerous building and fire safety code violations that endangered the lives of residents, the company retaliated against her. Van de Motter lost his job, his career and his peace of mind. Van de Motter is still trying to collect the compensation awarded to him by the court in 2020, but Irvine Company has blocked all his efforts. Van de Motter currently resides in Santa Monica, California.
