EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION: Northwest Cosmetic Labs Agrees to Settle Suit

January 18, 2011

Idaho falls, Idaho – Northwest Cosmetic Labs has settled the federal lawsuit charged against it by a black employee on discrimination based on color, race and national origin for $30,000, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Thursday.

According to the complaint, the black employee, a British national born in Zimbabwe, was hired by the company after a series of phone calls for a full-time internship. When she arrived in Idaho Falls, her employer said her coworkers would surely be “surprised” that she was black.

The EEOC said the employee received little to no direction on her tasks, unlike the other interns who were Caucasian. The complaint said she often receive discriminatory comments on her work. Eventually she complained to the management, but was fired.

EEOC filed the civil suit after the company refused a voluntary settlement of the dispute. Northwest Cosmetic Labs agreed to pay the employee $30,000 for damages caused by its discriminatory actions. In addition, the company is also required to implement a non-discrimination policy and anti-discrimination training for its workers.