Charges Against Microsoft and Amazon Former Directors Prompts Employers to Explore Policies

Since May, King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office filed charges against numerous men for promoting prostitution involving victims of sex trafficking. When news hit that the men charged included former directors of Microsoft and Amazon, new local employers reached out to BEST to learn how they might prevent this type of scandal and harm by employees. One of the men charged was Sumit Virmani, a former director of worldwide health for Microsoft, and a second was Vivek Asthana, a former director of software development at Amazon who spearheaded the company's FireTV.

Many employers have been unaware of the risks that employees can pose when they engage in sex buying activities. According to Dr. Mar Brettmann of BEST, "As law enforcement agencies increasingly investigate sex trafficking and sex buying crimes, the risks to businesses will increase." For this reason, BEST brought together a group of employers to create best practices, including robust sample policies, training, and other resources to enable employers to protect themselves while making a positive difference in the community.