EMPLOYMENT LAW: EEOC Sues A.C. Widenhouse for Race Discrimination

June 22, 2011

Salisbury-The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a race discrimination lawsuit against A.C. Widenhouse on Wednesday.

According to EEOC reports, the employees of A.C. Widenhouse reported the employer's failure to address existing discrimination acts in their workplace. The African-American workers have suffered from racial slurs, demeaning comments, and hostile treatment on the basis of their ethnic origin since May 2007.

At least one of the workers was given a noose by a co-employee and was told to hang himself on a tree. The other black employees received slurs such as "nigger" and "monkey."

The victims reported the discriminatory acts of co-workers and supervisors to the management, but the harassment continued. The aggrieved employees then filed a complaint with the EEOC, reports said.

The EEOC filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in North Carolina after a failed reconciliation between the involved parties. The A.C. Widenhouse may face stringent penalties and damages for the black employees.