The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has determined that the networking technology giant Cisco may have violated the civil rights of its Middle Eastern and Muslim employees. The federal agency found that employees were subjected to a hostile work environment, characterized by anti-Arab and anti-Muslim comments on internal messaging platforms.

The EEOC, responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination laws in the U.S., issued its determination in June. This finding stems from a complaint filed in December 2024 by a Cisco employee group known as "Bridge to Humanity" (B2H). The group had been vocal about their concerns regarding the company's technology being supplied to the Israeli military, particularly in the context of the conflict in Gaza.

Prior to the EEOC complaint, B2H had circulated an open letter within the company urging Cisco to cease providing technology to the Israeli government. This letter garnered support from over 1,700 of Cisco's more than 86,000 employees. Following the dissemination of the letter, signatories reported experiencing harassment, with allegations including one employee being told to "quit living."

The employees further alleged that Cisco's response to their complaints was delayed until they compiled a comprehensive 76-page report detailing hate comments encountered in an internal messaging group named "Connected Jewish Network." This report was subsequently submitted to Cisco's Employee Relations and Ethics offices.

Documents obtained by The Guardian reveal that the 76-page report outlined numerous instances of offensive remarks. One comment from November 2023 expressed gratitude for the deaths of two members of a Palestinian family. The report detailed how "Cisconians" allegedly glorified violence, made light of people's deaths, dehumanized Palestinians and those with opposing views, and labeled Arabs and Muslims as "murderous, violent terrorists."

According to the report, the "Connected Jewish Network" was not even a safe space for all Jewish colleagues, indicating internal divisions and a broader issue of discourse within the company's internal communication channels.

Cisco has not publicly commented on the EEOC's determination. The company's actions and response to the allegations are under scrutiny, as the EEOC's finding suggests potential systemic issues within its workplace environment concerning discrimination and harassment.

The EEOC's determination opens the door for potential legal action or further investigation, depending on Cisco's response and the next steps taken by the affected employees and the commission.