EEOC Accuses Tesla Of Failing To Protect Black Employees From Discrimination

The electric car maker Tesla is confronted with yet another federal lawsuit over their failure to take action against the discrimination, intimidation, and harassment of black workers at their facility.

A lawsuit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) accuses the electric vehicle manufacturer of breaking federal law by failing to provide adequate protection against racial harassment and discrimination for black employees working there.
The lawsuit alleges that Black employees at Tesla’s Fremont, California production facilities have consistently experienced racial abuse, pervasive stereotyping, antagonism, and insults such as variations of the N-word since at least 2015 until the present, the EOCC stated.

An EOCC investigation into Tesla found that the company’s employees were consistently subjected to an illegally hostile work environment and that any attempts to protest the unfair treatment were met with reprisal. Charlotte A. Burrows, the chair of the EOCC, filed a commissioner’s complaint that sparked the inquiries and necessary steps to put a stop to it.

“Combatting systemic harassment in workplaces is a key strategic enforcement priority for the EEOC. Unfortunately, as the lawsuits EEOC has filed this fiscal year show, racial harassment remains a persistent problem in employment. Every employee deserves to have their civil rights respected, and no worker should endure the kind of shameful racial bigotry our investigation revealed,” said Burrows. 

According to media reports, Tesla faces several other lawsuits that make similar accusations, including a class action by workers at the Fremont plant, a lawsuit by a California civil rights agency, and others involving sexual harassment of women.

“Today’s lawsuit makes clear that no company is above the law, and the EEOC will vigorously enforce federal civil rights protections to help ensure American workplaces are free from unlawful harassment and retaliation,” said Burrows.

Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager