Heather McPhee has been the associate general counsel for the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) since 2009. Today, she is on paid administrative leave after at least four employees filed internal complaints alleging that she fostered a hostile work environment. They ultimately chose to suspend her over a range of serious misconduct, including racist and sexist behavior within the organization. In particular, claims of harassment and ignoring bosses’ orders led to this move.
The complaints, which were filed with the NFLPA’s human resources department, suggest that McPhee’s behavior has created a disruptive work environment. Employees complained that she created a hostile, intimidating work environment and that her conduct detracted from the union’s productivity as a whole. The systemic nature and similarities of these complaints have raised red flags as to the nature of her consistent professional misconduct.
Putting aside these shocking new allegations, McPhee had already been central to other serious allegations involving the NFLPA’s spending and financial mismanagement. Her behavior even triggered a federal investigation. It zeroed in on the shady money laundering operations of both the NFL Players Union and the MLB Players Union. This study particularly focuses on OneTeam Partners. This company, collectively licensed at $2 billion, mostly owned (44.5%) by the NFLPA.
In response, McPhee called on the NFLPA to look into it. He alleged that members of the board of directors for OneTeam Partners distributed ownership stakes for themselves without appropriate oversight. This advocacy put her at odds with damaging factions within the organization and increased tensions.
The cloud of controversy surrounding McPhee exploded into a firestorm. In late June, a 61-page ruling from their arbitrator leaked to the good folks at the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast. This leak has led to increased scrutiny on the deep-set, ongoing issues inside the NFLPA. On a personal level, it’s muddied McPhee’s future with the organization.
Although ESPN sought comment for this story from McPhee, she did not respond to ESPN’s phone or text messages. Likewise, her attorney, William Pittard, has not returned calls or emails on this subject either.
Yet McPhee’s time with the NFLPA has not been free from controversy. She has doggedly attacked former executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. His recent departure from the organization likely changed internal dynamics and led to her current plight.
That part of the controversy appears to be ongoing. Though it is unclear what the future now holds for McPhee, or whether she’ll be able to return to her seat at the NFLPA, the union’s leadership is under tremendous pressure to respond to these legitimate allegations while trying to protect the integrity of their operation.
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