A former Indiana meteorologist has accused her previous employer, WTWO, of creating a hostile work environment, alleging that management monitored her conversations with a veteran colleague, restricted her social media activity, and pressured her to resign before ultimately firing her. Alex Kerkhove, who was with the Nexstar-owned station for a year, detailed her experience in a social media post.
Kerkhove stated that she joined WTWO with the goal of learning from chief meteorologist Jesse Walker and becoming part of the local community. However, she claims station management quickly sought to limit her interactions with Walker, telling her she could only speak with him for 15-20 minutes at a time while at work, and that they monitored their conversations via security cameras.
Allegations of Restricted Duties and Job Search
Further allegations include being barred from posting on the station's Facebook page during community events on her days off, being reassigned away from on-air weather duties shortly after her hiring, and being prevented from working more than four hours during a severe weather event despite volunteering. According to Kerkhove, frustration over these issues led her to begin seeking other employment.
She recounted that Walker intervened on her behalf, informing the station's general manager that she was being treated poorly and was looking for other jobs, urging management to address the situation. Following this, management met with Kerkhove after learning she had received a contingent job offer elsewhere. During this meeting, executives reportedly asked what they could do to persuade her to stay and requested she put her concerns in writing.
Termination and Escorted Departure
Kerkhove complied, believing the issues could be resolved. Instead, she alleged that management rejected all her requests and informed her they intended to advertise her position, even though she had not resigned. She maintains she never submitted a resignation letter. Management then gave her time to consider her options and consult an attorney, but ultimately decided to terminate her employment before she could make a decision. On June 8, she was summoned to a meeting, told it would be her last day, and pressured to state she was resigning. She claims she was then escorted out of the building by HR, and her social media and email accounts were deactivated by the time she left.
Kerkhove's initial announcement of her departure earlier this month had drawn significant support from viewers. In her recent post, she pushed back against claims that she quit voluntarily, stating that station employees had twisted half-truths into lies. While describing her experience as "messy and disheartening," Kerkhove indicated this would be her final public statement on the matter. She asserted that the way she and Walker were treated was wrong, as was the general treatment of young professionals in the industry.