The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is an integral piece of what makes our communities great places to live, work and raise a family. But, as has been exposed by the Los Angeles Times and other news outlets, MWD has also become a workplace known for lax worker safety, abusive work practices, sexual harassment, bullying and retaliation.

But this public corporation is ultimately overseen by the California Legislature. The Legislature can order a comprehensive analysis of MWD’s repeated violations of safety, respect and well-being of its employees until the demand for accountability and justice results in action. In fact, MWD has been audited in the past, including for issues related to ethics.

It is time that the Joint Legislative Affair Committee approve an audit of Metropolitan’s employment practices based on the issues that have been brought to light by current and former employees. In order to create the institutional change necessary to ensure a workplace free from bullying, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other abuses on the job for all Metropolitan workers, the State of California needs a comprehensive investigation into the alleged abuses, and related human resources policies and practices, no matter how long it takes.