Illegal to Fire Employee Because He Complains about Race Discrimination

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reached a $25,000 settlement with Floyd’s Equipment, which the EEOC alleged had discriminated and retaliated against an African American employee due to his race.  The EEOC alleged that the company’s foreman repeatedly used the “n word” at work.  One of Floyd’s African American employees complained about the racial slur and its use by the foreman.  After the complaint was made, the foreman confronted him angrily, and the company then transferred the employee to a job in a different state performing work with a shovel (instead of a backhoe).  Eventually, Floyd’s terminated the employee who had complained.  Such alleged conduct is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Title VII protects employees against discrimination based on numerous protected classes, including race.  See EEOC v. Floyd's Equipment, Inc., No. 1:17-cv-00175 (E.D. Mo.).