Bill Gates’ office asked female job candidates about sex histories: report
Bill Gates’s private office has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that female job candidates were asked invasive and personal questions about their sexual histories during the hiring process. Some of the questions included inquiries about pornography preferences, extramarital affairs, and possession of nude photos. The inquiries were reportedly conducted by a third-party contractor called Concentric Advisors, which specializes in security screenings for high-net-worth clients. While it is unclear if male candidates were subjected to the same line of questioning, none of the candidates interviewed by The Wall Street Journal said they were asked similar questions. A spokeswoman for Gates Ventures, Gates’s private office, claimed that she had not been made aware of these types of questions being asked during the background checks. However, documents reviewed by The Journal indicated that the screening process was not solely for employment purposes. A consent form signed by the candidates indicated that the assessment would evaluate their sustainability for employment and would include disclosures of sensitive information, including “highly sensitive information.” The revelations raise concerns about the violation of privacy and the potential for blackmail or compromise for individuals working closely with Gates. The spokesperson for Gates Ventures stated that this line of questioning would be unacceptable and a violation of their agreement with the contractor. Furthermore, representatives for Concentric Advisors have not yet responded to requests for comment from The Washington Post. There are also questions about whether these interview practices comply with pre-employment screening laws, such as the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits questions about health or psychiatric history. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission stated that while there is no black letter law prohibiting questions about sex, using that information to make adverse employment decisions could lead to legal action. It remains to be seen if these revelations will impact Gates’s reputation or his philanthropic efforts with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Report: Bill Gates’ office reportedly inquired about the sexual histories of female job applicants
Bill Gates’s private office has come under scrutiny after reports of inappropriate and personal questions being asked to female job candidates during the hiring process. According to sources, these questions included inquiries about their sexual histories, pornography preferences, extramarital affairs, and possession of nude pictures. The screenings were conducted by a third-party contractor called Concentric Advisors, who claimed to provide “family office security” for high-net-worth clients. It remains unclear whether similar questions were posed to male candidates. A spokeswoman for Gates Ventures, Gates’s private office, stated that she was unaware of such questions being asked during the background checks. Concentric Advisors has not responded to requests for comment.
Despite claims by the Gates spokeswoman that industry standards are followed for pre-employment screenings, the interviews reportedly took a personal turn for many female candidates. The security firm’s assessment was allegedly aimed at finding compromising or blackmail-worthy information that could potentially be used against individuals working closely with Gates. The Gates Ventures spokeswoman asserted that if such questions were asked, it would be a violation of the agreement with the contractor. Concentric’s CEO also stated that their background checks were standardized for all genders. However, documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal suggest that the screening process was not solely for employment purposes. A consent form indicated that the behavioral assessment would be used to evaluate the potential employee’s qualification for employment with Gates Ventures, and it would delve into sensitive areas such as drug use, medical history, and psychiatric records. The form granted Concentric permission to disclose highly sensitive information to Gates Ventures officials.
Legal experts have weighed in on the matter, stating that while there is no outright prohibition on asking questions regarding sex, it could potentially be grounds for legal action if the information obtained is used adversely against the candidate. Questions related to health or psychiatric history are prohibited under the federal Americans With Disabilities Act, as are inquiries about past illegal drug use. Some employees of Gates Ventures claim to have not undergone such questioning, while others, particularly female workers, confirmed being asked about their sexual histories.
These revelations come in the wake of previous controversies surrounding Gates, including allegations of an affair with a Microsoft employee and his association with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Gates has defended his relationship with the employee as consensual and occurring two decades ago. Epstein, who reportedly threatened to expose another alleged affair that Gates had, died by suicide in 2019. Microsoft has not yet commented on the matter. Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda, recently divorced after almost 30 years of marriage but continue to collaborate on philanthropic endeavors through The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.