A recent lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleges that Tesla's California factory subjected its Black employees to persistent racial harassment and played a role in fostering an unwelcome working atmosphere for employees from diverse backgrounds.
(Photo : Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images)
SINDELFINGEN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 08: The building that houses the local Tesla electric car dealership on December 08, 2022 in Sindelfingen, Germany.
Facing Another Racial Lawsuit
The EEOC alleges that the Tesla facility in Fremont was saturated with racial slurs, derogatory language, and the propagation of racial stereotypes, creating an atmosphere of racial hostility and misconduct directed at Black employees.
Additionally, The Verge reported that the lawsuit contends that Black workers who voiced their concerns about such mistreatment faced either termination or retaliatory actions.
The lawsuit contains numerous instances of the alleged language used within Tesla's factory, which is consistent with the claims made by former Black employees who have filed their own lawsuits against the company.
"The allegations in this case are disturbing. No worker should have to endure racial harassment and retaliation to earn a living six decades after the enactment of Title VII," EEOC San Francisco District Office Regional Attorney Roberta L. Steele stated.
Racist Workplace
According to the EEOC, derogatory slurs were frequently used without restraint in busy areas and employee gathering points. Black workers often came across offensive graffiti, including different forms of racial slurs, swastikas, menacing messages, and nooses.
These offensive symbols and words were found on desks, equipment, restroom stalls, elevator walls, and even on freshly manufactured vehicles as they left the production line. Black employees characterized the abundance of racist imagery as "common," "persistent," "a regular occurrence," and happening "far too often to quantify."
The EEOC's legal action aims to secure compensatory and punitive damages, as well as back pay for the impacted employees, and it also seeks injunctive relief intended to reform Tesla's employment procedures to prevent future occurrences of such discrimination.
Previous Accusations
The accusations in this lawsuit mirror those presented in a previous legal case against Tesla by a California civil rights organization in the previous year. Additionally, Black employees at the company's factory have voiced similar grievances.
In October 2021, a jury granted a Black former Tesla worker $137 million in compensation for his allegations of unchecked racism within the company, though a judge subsequently lowered this amount to $15 million.
Also Read: Tesla Has Convinced Judge to Reduce the $137 Million Payment for its Racial Abuse Lawsuit
The corporation also compensated another former Black worker with $1 million after he reported being subjected to racial slurs by a supervisor. Furthermore, Tesla is currently confronted with a class action lawsuit that accuses the company of fostering a racist environment at its primary manufacturing facility.
Last year, Tesla revealed in a legal document that it was the subject of an EEOC investigation. During that period, the company asserted that it was embroiled in a jurisdictional dispute between the agency and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which was concurrently pursuing legal action against the company for racial discrimination.
Related Article: Tesla Allegedly Abuses Employees Following Recent Racial Lawsuit
