The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against Tesla Inc. alleging widespread racial harassment and retaliation against Black employees, according to an announcement made by the federal agency on Thursday.
In a statement, the EEOC stated that Black employees at Tesla’s manufacturing facilities in Fremont, California, have been subjected to racial abuse, stereotypes, hostility, and epithets since at least 2015. The commission further added that these employees often encountered graffiti, including derogatory language, symbols of hate, threats, and even nooses in various areas, including their workstations, bathrooms, elevators, and newly produced vehicles.
The lawsuit has been filed by the EEOC’s San Francisco District Office, which has jurisdiction over Northern California, northern Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages, back pay for affected workers, and injunctive relief to reform Tesla’s employment practices and prevent further discrimination.
EEOC Chairperson, Charlotte A. Burrows, emphasized that no company is above the law and that the EEOC will enforce federal civil rights protections to ensure harassment and retaliation are eliminated in American workplaces.
Attempts to obtain comments from Tesla officials were unsuccessful.
Tesla, the world’s most valuable car company, is facing similar legal action from multiple fronts. In February, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a racial discrimination lawsuit on behalf of more than 4,000 current and former Black Tesla workers. This lawsuit alleges that Black employees were subjected to racist slurs in both English and Spanish by co-workers and supervisors. It further claims that Tesla segregated Black workers, assigned them difficult tasks, and regularly denied them promotions. The plaintiffs also alleged that complaints about racist treatment went unaddressed or resulted in termination.
Tesla countered these allegations, stating that the former employees did not report racism to the company and that any disciplinary actions taken against them were due to their own misconduct in the workplace.
According to attorney Clifton W. Albright, the EEOC’s lawsuit places additional pressure on Tesla, as the agency’s involvement indicates a significant level of evidence supporting the employees’ claims. Albright explains that the EEOC typically prefers quiet resolutions and only takes strong action when employers fail to acknowledge or address the issues.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
