People in Long Island who are subject to discrimination on the basis of race at work might be able to file a lawsuit against their company. This was the case for an employee of the sports merchandise retailer Fanatics based in Jacksonville, Florida. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit on the man’s behalf.
The man says that on his first day on the job, a supervisor used a racial slur. In the years of his employment there, both employees and supervisors made racist remarks. Other employees have verified the man’s claims and told the EEOC that black and white employees are treated differently with the white employees receiving better treatment.
The man also said he was told he would be made supervisor. However, he faced retaliation after he complained about the discrimination. The job was given to someone else with fewer qualifications, and he was told he would never get the position. The company has issued a statement denying all allegations and saying it looks forward to defending against them in court.
Discrimination against people in the workplace on the basis of race and several other protected characteristics is prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, people still face this type of discrimination, and they may also face retaliation if they report it. Retaliation could include demotion, termination or additional harassment. An attorney may be able to advise a person dealing with discrimination as to how to document it and may advise the employee to attempt to go through workplace channels first. If this fails, depending on the specifics of the situation, there may be several legal options for the employee.
Source: Footwear News, “Sports Merchandise Retailer Fanatics Sued for Racial Discrimination“, Hilary George-Parkin, July 25, 2018
