Racist Comments Employment Lawsuit

In a racial harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed in Nevada by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (”EEOC”) attorneys, the federal agency alleges that a portable toilet supply company in Northern Nevada violated federal law by permitting racial harassment, including racist comments and epithets, in its workplace and by firing an African American driver for reporting the racist behavior.  According to the EEOC Press Release at http://www.eeoc.gov/press/9-16-09d.html , the route driver allegedly endured racist comments, epithets and behavior from his coworker and his supervisor.  EEOC attorneys charge in the case that the supervisor used the N-word and a coworker flaunted a swastika tattoo and talked about the need to keep the white race “pure.”  As stated in the Press Release, the driver complained to his supervisor twice in one month about his coworker’s racist behavior and he was fired two days later.  Racial harassment is prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which also forbids retaliating against an employee who opposes such conduct.  In this regard, the EEOC is a federal agency which enforces federal laws prohibiting racial harassment in the workplace, including retaliation for complaining about racial harassment.  An EEOC attorney quoted in the Press Release stated that “The law is clear: all employees have the right to work in an environment free from hostility, intimidation and ridicule.”  EEOC attorneys filed the federal discrimination lawsuit after first attempting to reach a voluntary out of court settlement.  Further information about the EEOC is available in the agency’s website at www.eeoc.gov .