Last month, The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) initiated a lawsuit against Asphalt Paving Services after it was reported that the company created a hostile environment for Black employees in Zephyrhills, Florida.
The lawsuit states that co-workers and management used racial slurs, such as the “N-word” and “boy,” against Black employees. It further says that Black workers faced harsh working conditions, like working in heavy rain, while white employees didn’t. Black employees were forced to use outdoor restrooms, while white employees had access to indoor facilities.
“Throughout the course of Charging Parties’ employment with APS, they were subjected to racial epithets and racially-charged verbal abuse from white supervisors and co-workers, threatening conduct by white supervisors and co-workers, and being forced to work in demeaning and humiliating working conditions” the complaint says.
The company’s mechanic, identified as “Jackie” in the lawsuit, made inappropriate comments to Black employees about skin color and implied he was “Black from the waist down.”
By March 2022, all the Black employees had either left APS or were terminated.
“The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing and illustrate the unfortunate reality that, 60 years after Title VII was enacted, toxic racial discrimination still plagues many workplaces in Florida,” said EEOC Regional Attorney Robert E. Weisberg “The EEOC will continue to vigorously fight for the rights of Black employees and applicants to be free from workplace discrimination.”
The lawsuit demands that Asphalt Paving Systems establish fair employment policies that ensure equal employment opportunities for Black employees and provide compensation to the plaintiffs, with the exact amount to be determined at trial.
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