15 Misconduct Scandals Making Headlines in April 2025 (and Resources to Help)

Misconduct is making headlines — again.

In just the first weeks of April, a news station posted a racial slur on X, a State Fair employee was caught spiking a coworker’s drink, and yet another CEO stepped down amid misconduct allegations. Meanwhile, new revelations of systemic abuse in the global sports world are sending shockwaves through the industry — and raising serious questions about oversight at the highest levels.

From boardrooms to ballparks, these incidents are a stark reminder: misconduct doesn’t stay hidden — it escalates. And when it does, it threatens not only people and culture, but also reputation, revenue, and business continuity.

But these cases are just the tip of the iceberg—check out this month’s roundup of the most disturbing misconduct stories you won’t want to miss in Misconduct in the News for April 2025.

15 Workplace Misconduct Scandals 

Entertainment Misconduct

Los Angeles news station ‘accidentally’ posts N-word on X: ‘Technical error’

KTLA, known as Channel 5, tweeted the slur with no context Friday morning, and screenshots quickly spread through the internet before the station could delete it. (NY Post)

Soulja Boy Denies Raping Woman, Calls Sex Assault Allegations ‘Disgusting’

Soulja Boy’s former personal assistant sues him for sexual assault during her employment. Soulja Boy testified in court that he ‘never beat, raped, and held her against her will while she lived with him as a personal assistant starting.’ (Rolling Stone)

Tigers Assistant GM Resigned Following Investigation Into Alleged Workplace Misconduct

Sam Menzin resigned last week after the Tigers completed an investigation into alleged improper workplace conduct. “Two female Tigers employees accused Menzin of sending ‘unsolicited lewd photos,’ dating back to 2017. The team then launched an investigation, and upon its completion Menzin chose to resign before he could be terminated.” (Sports Illustrated) 

Ski Instructor Accused of Sexually Assaulting 9-Year-Old Boy After Lying Next to Sleeping Child

A 48-year-old ski instructor from Frisco, Colorado, has been arrested and charged with criminal sexual penetration and contact with a minor following allegations that he sexually assaulted a 9-year-old boy during a ski training trip in Taos, New Mexico. Hedges has since been suspended by U.S. (People)

Education Misconduct

School Counselor Fired After Posting ‘Misogynistic’ Content Telling Girls To ‘Obey’ Husbands

A school counselor was fired from her job at an all-girls’ school after sharing social media content that encouraged women to “obey” their husbands. (Cafemom)

Former Sussex County High School Principal Arrested for Forgery, Official Misconduct

Former Sussex County High School Principal Jeffrey M. Hague was arrested for allegedly forging documents and engaging in official misconduct. Hague is accused of submitting falsified records for personal gain, leading to multiple charges, including felony forgery and official misconduct. (Delaware News)

Government Misconduct

New Berlin police officer accused of misconduct, stealing DEA drugs

A New Berlin police officer has been accused of misconduct and stealing drugs from a DEA task force. Authorities allege the officer took controlled substances meant for evidence, violating department policies and legal standards. (Fox6)

Former National City Police Department officer awarded $10M in harassment suit

A former National City police officer filed a civil lawsuit against the police department for creating a culture where female officers were supposed to be submissive to their male counterparts. ‘Many of the male officers and supervisors indicated that if female officers wanted to fit in at NCPD, they either needed to be submissive to the male officers or sleep with them.’ Supervisors and colleagues also allegedly harassed her for being an openly gay woman. (NBC)

Catawba County Humane Society puts executive director on leave; investigating complaints

The Board of Directors for the Catawba County Humane Society placed their executive director on administrative leave and authorized a third-party investigation into complaints about animal abuse. (WBTV)

Seattle City Light rocked by misconduct report detailing harassment and extortion

“A damning report has revealed a culture of misconduct at Seattle City Light, implicating 40 employees in a range of inappropriate behavior, including drinking on the job, extortion of junior workers, and sexual harassment.” (Komo News)

Hospitality & Retail Misconduct

Chipotle to Pay $20,000 in EEOC Religious Harassment Lawsuit

A supervisor pressured an employee, who was a teenager at the time, to remove a religious head covering. After she refused several times, citing its religious attire that is protected, the supervisor grabbed her hijab and partially removed it himself. The victim immediately reported the incident, and gave two weeks’ notice. (EEOC)

Wisconsin Man Caught on Camera Spiking Co-Worker’s Drink With Gorilla Glue 

A man working at the Wisconsin State Fair Park was caught spiking a coworker's drink with Gorilla Glue, according to a police investigation. “Wisconsin State Fair Park issued a statement clarifying that both individuals involved were employed by a vendor, not by the park itself.” “While the park did not comment on the employment status of the accused, they confirmed that Ross has been issued a ‘No Trespass Order.’” Judicial Court “Commissioner Andrea Bolender expressed concern over the severity of the allegations, stating, ‘This is extremely alarming and definitely has elements of a lot of violence.’” (97x)

Primark CEO resigns following workplace conduct investigation

“Paul Marchant has resigned as chief executive of Primark following an allegation [of inappropriate communication] regarding his behaviour towards a woman in a social setting. Associated British Foods (ABF), Primark’s parent company, confirmed that Marchant admitted an “error of judgment” and accepted that his actions did not meet company standards.” (HR Review)

Healthcare Misconduct

NICU Nurse Is Fired After Posting Photos Mocking Newborn Babies on Social Media

A Korean hospital has issued an apology after one of its nurses decided to mock the babies in her care. Her mocking made the rounds on social media, causing a firestorm. (Newsbreak)

Influencer Misconduct 

Florida influencer charged after posting video of alleged sex act with pet dog, sheriff says

A content creator who sells sexually explicit photos and videos of herself on the internet recorded herself in a sex act with a pet dog. She told investigators she was paid $500 for the footage. Investigators also said she told them this was not her first sexual encounter with a dog.  (CBS News)

Headlines this month continue to deliver shocking and disturbing misconduct cases, highlighting the ongoing prevalence of misconduct at work. These stories show the grim reality where unchecked misconduct behaviors continue to have devastating consequences for employees and organizations. Now, let’s take a look at how to mitigate misconduct scandals like these. 

Fama Findings: Misconduct in the Wild

One theme we continue to see is public online footprints revealing clear warning signs. Misconduct– whether it’s hate speech, harassment, or threats– is often visible online long before it shows up in the workplace. These digital breadcrumbs allow organizations to intervene early, helping prevent the kind of misconduct that makes the headlines. 

Every month, Fama’s screenings uncover real examples of risks organizations can’t afford to ignore. Here are a few key takeaways from recent Fama screenings:

• The candidate was sued by the SEC for fraud by inflating the company’s revenue by $3 billion. 
• A head of a hospital was using unclaimed bodies for medical research instead of finding and requesting consent from next of kin. Over 800 bodies were illegally dissected and leased to external organizations, generating $2.5 million in revenue.

Resources to Mitigate Misconduct at Work 

For a deeper look into how misconduct is impacting workplaces today, check out our latest research and resources:  

The State of Misconduct at Work in 2024 

New research on The State of Misconduct at Work walks through recent trends that employers must know, why they are happening, and what employers can do about it. Even more – see what types of misconduct are most prevalent and what industries are experiencing the most problems. 

HR’s Silent Threat Just Got Louder—and Harder to Detect

Fama’s VP of People, Freesia Chen, penned an article on ERE HR's Silent Threat Just Got Louder-and Harder to Detect breaking down important people risks that every HR and people leader needs to know to prevent their next crisis. 

The #9to5Nightmares HR Podcast 

Catch the latest episode of the #9to5Nightmares podcast to hear more about these issues and expert insights. Episode 11 explores the sudden resignation of Kroger’s CEO, a mental health counselor who violated a patient by responding to her sex ad, and another lawsuit against Diddy.

Addressing Workplace Misconduct in the Property and Financial Sectors

Financial Reporter recently published an article from Thomas Beale, partner and head of the bullying and harassment team at Bolt Burdon Kemp “explor[ing] why companies must go beyond PR statements and demonstrate real cultural change, the implications for businesses that fail to tackle workplace harassment effectively, and what meaningful policies and enforcement should look like in practice.” 

Each month, employers are faced with new scandals and even worse headlines in the news. But, it doesn’t have to be this way. In most cases, workplace misconduct is preventable with the right processes and technology in place. Learn how Fama can help you mitigate misconduct at work now. 

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