Exclusive

Is Bauer Publishing one of publishing's least friendly employers for those with XX chromosomes? That's what multiple current and former staffers, from the business and publishing side of the business, have been telling us. Forget VNU's dildo-slash-sexual harassment doozy of a lawsuit. If you're a woman who feels uncomfortable in the workplace, there's a good chance Bauer is your boss.

And most of the blame, we're told, falls on chief Hubert Boehle. One former Bauer employee calls the CEO an "egomaniacal misogynist," and that seems to be the kindest of compliments we've heard.

Bauer, of course, was in the news most recently for axing Debra Birnbaum as Life & Style's editor-in-chief, even after she managed a staggering 49 percent increase in circulation only to see the floor fall out on her. Her replacement was Mark Pasetsky, the mag's general manager who – we've been telling you – doesn't have the confidence of many staffers.

One current staffer claims Brinbaum's ousting may have much to do with the fact that she's a lady. "It's pretty obvious [Boehle] had a problem with a woman having so much success," tattles our insider. But an ex-staffer questions why Boehle – who has only one woman, the relatively powerless teen group president Lynette Gallagher, on his executive roster – would replace a woman with the openly gay Pasetsky. Perhaps it's because, as our source tells it, he's the "bottom" in this relationship.

I was very surprised when he put then openly gay Pasetsky in the GM role. He keeps most of his female and effeminate staff in editorial where they stay under his thumb. Of course, I have always held the opinion that his interest in Mark was a little deeper than general manager.

Bauer is an atrocity of an employer. Ask anyone who has worked for Carol Brooks at First For Women. During my time at Bauer she once told me that "employees at Bauer were the most 'litigous' she'd ever seen". Of course, that's what happens when you fire people for getting married/pregnant/having a life and take it as a personal affront.

So Hubert isn't the panty-chaser we took him to be, but rather on the verge of a Jann Wenner coming out story? We'd love to be the ones to report it. Or perhaps its the childish story more suited for Bauer's J-14. Either way, the infractions against women apparently continue to mount. And soon enough, Rachel Sklar is gonna hear about it. You were warned.