Microsoft sued by ex-staff who say they were left with PTSD after working there

Microsoft is being sued by a pair of former employees who claim they were left with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after viewing disturbing material.

Henry Soto and Greg Blauert, formerly of Microsoft’s Online Safety Team, viewed and reported material which had been flagged as potentially illegal. Their role, according to Microsoft, can only be performed for a short amount of time. Those who carry out this task are also kept in a different office.

Microsoft explains to the BBC: “Employees are limited in how long they may do this work per day and must go to a separate, dedicated office to do it; they can’t do this work at home or on personal equipment.”

Despite this seeming acknowledgment of the position’s difficulty, the two men say little was done to forewarn or prepare them for what they faced. The lawsuit states that their efforts were “instrumental” in saving lives and landing prosecutions, but this took its toll; Blauert had a mental breakdown in 2013. When he voiced concerns, it is alleged, he was told to "smoke", "go for walk" or "play video games" as a distraction.