The Democratic Party’s top payroll vendor, the human resources software company Rippling, has cultivated a "borderline barbaric" internal culture that penalizes employees who take the paid family or medical leave to which they’re entitled, according to lawsuits and complaints from several former employees. The allegations against Rippling came as it rose through the ranks of Democratic vendors thanks in part to generous tax breaks from Democratic Govs. Gavin Newsom (Calif.) and Kathy Hochul (N.