Ex-KC area Planned Parenthood CEO exits after complaints of abusive behavior, racism
The former CEO of Planned Parenthood’s Kansas City-area office has been ousted as head of the abortion provider’s largest affiliate following allegations of abusive behavior and systemic racism from current and former staff.
The board of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York announced Monday to staff members that it had “parted ways” with president and CEO Laura McQuade, according to an internal memo obtained by The Star. Before taking the reins of the New York office, McQuade had led Planned Parenthood Great Plains from July 2014 through August 2017.
“We will be moving fast to ensure a smooth transition to new leadership to move our organization forward in this challenging moment,” the memo said. “Our highest priority is to best serve our patients and to ensure our employees feel valued.”
McQuade’s exit follows open letters signed by hundreds of current and former staff in New York and Kansas City that accused McQuade of abusive behavior, financial mismanagement and systemic racism during her tenure.
“Dozens of staff members have witnessed McQuade yell, berate, slam her fists, verbally abuse, humiliate, and bully employees, often brutally shaming staff members in internal meetings in front of their colleagues,” said the letter written by New York staff last week.
The letter called for McQuade’s termination and for an independent investigation into the allegations as well as salary cuts for top officials earning more than $100,000.
Former employees of the Kansas City area office told The Star they had observed identical behavior during McQuade’s three-year tenure at Planned Parenthood Great Plains.
On Friday, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York’s board of directors issued a statement saying it fully supported McQuade, but days later it reversed course and said a change was necessary.
“During Laura’s tenure, PPGNY made some important operational changes. But growing concerns raised by our staff made her continued leadership untenable,” said Kerri Lyon, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
“Our employees are on the front lines of some of the most critical health care work in the country and we recognize we must make some changes to ensure our clinicians and center staff continue to feel supported in meeting the needs of all patients.”
The website that published the open letters from staffers in both cities announced McQuade’s departure Tuesday morning.
“While we know that there is still work to do, we are happy for this victory,” the website said.
McQuade could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America said in a statement on Friday that the behaviors outlined in the letters from staff at the two affiliates “do not align with Planned Parenthood’s standards or our values.”
While McQuade was at Planned Parenthood Great Plains, the affiliate was the subject of at least two discrimination lawsuits.
In 2017, a Lee’s Summit woman filed a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood Great Plains and McQuade alleging race and disability discrimination and retaliation.
The woman, who was the longtime director of securities and facilities, said McQuade treated her differently than her non-Black colleagues, paying her less than white employees and passing over her for executive positions. After she discussed those concerns with McQuade, the woman said McQuade increased her workload, then rejected her request for additional help, despite providing her white colleagues with assistance.
“Plaintiff, and other African American employees, were viewed with suspicion by Defendant McQuade,” the lawsuit alleges.
The woman said she also was excluded from an investigation regarding racist remarks made by an employee, despite the fact that she was the one who brought the complaint to McQuade. As a result of the unmanageable workload, stress and discriminatory treatment, the woman said she began having health problems in late 2015 and after taking time off to deal with them, was terminated.
The lawsuit was dismissed in April 2019.
This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 1:13 PM.
