Latest news with #DebraLawrence
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Employer settles claims that it refused to promote Black employee, fired her after bias complaint
This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: A Maryland retirement community will pay $85,000 to settle U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims that it refused to promote a Black manager and subsequently fired her when she complained of discrimination, EEOC said in a press release Tuesday. Per the 2024 complaint, the plaintiff sought promotion to a vice president or executive director position, but was told that she was ineligible because she lacked a bachelor's degree. She alleged Westminster Ingleside King Farm Presbyterian Retirement Communities nonetheless employed a White employee who lacked a bachelor's degree as its VP of HR and promoted another White employee with the same job title as the plaintiff to an executive director role. The plaintiff later received a bachelor's degree, but EEOC claimed her supervisor ignored the plaintiff's promotion request. It also alleged she received a 'false' written warning from HR, after which the plaintiff expressed a desire to file a race discrimination charge. She was terminated shortly afterward. EEOC alleged violations of federal laws including Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. As part of its consent decree with EEOC, the employer did not admit wrongdoing. Dive Insight: The EEOC noted that retaliation — such as that alleged in the Westminster Ingleside lawsuit — is unlawful irrespective of the validity of an employee's claims. Such complaints 'can be early warning signs for employers,' Debra Lawrence, regional attorney at EEOC, said in the press release. 'What employers should never do is treat complaints as the problem or take adverse action against the complainant.' According to agency enforcement guidance, employers may not retaliate against employees for opposing unlawful equal employment opportunity practices. This opposition may include actions such as complaining or threatening to complain about alleged discrimination against oneself or others. Retaliation has formed the basis of previous EEOC settlements with employers, including a 2024 agreement between the agency and an employer that it alleged retaliated against three employees — including an HR manager — for raising concerns about discriminatory workplace treatment. Employers should swiftly and thoroughly investigate employee complaints — with the assistance of an external investigator if necessary, an employment law attorney wrote in an op-ed to HR Dive in March.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kenton restaurant must pay $125K in discrimination suit
May 2—KENTON — Ralphie's Sports Eatery Company will pay $125,000 among other relief to settle a race, disability and retaliation discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, according to a press release from the commission. A direct supervisor at the Kenton restaurant, 995 N. Detroit St., used racial slurs and other derogatory terms to a former server with a disability. According to the release, after the restaurant learned of the server's disability, the employee was denied a promotion, suspended and fired. The server filed a discrimination charge with the EEOC, which later led to Bennett Enterprises refusing to hire the server at a different Ralphie's location due to an active EEOC claim, violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. "Employers cannot violate multiple anti-discrimination statutes and then retaliate against employees for enforcing their rights under those laws," said Philadelphia District Office Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence in a press release. Bennett Enterprises is required to pay $125,000 and provide regular reporting and live training for management, human resources and non-supervisory employees to ensure compliance with Title VII and the ADA as part of a two-year consent decree, according to the release. "The EEOC is committed to preventing and remedying race and disability harassment, discrimination and retaliation," Lawrence said. Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351 Featured Local Savings
