Racial Discrimination and Harassment
Racial Discrimination and Harassment
Case Study
3/9/2014
A very clear example of harassment based on an employees’ race is evident in the lawsuit filed against MMR Constructors, Inc. in Arkansas. An African American employee was subjected to racial harassment by white employees that included racially offensive language, graffiti and death threats. White employees went as far as going to the black employees’ home in the middle of the night and threatened his life because he apparently reported the racially charged incidents to the company. The employee reported the “midnight visit” incident to the company and the company refused to take action against the employees because it did not happen at work. When a company overlooks incidents happening on and off the worksite, it gives the harasser the impression that the company condones the behavior. Harassment by definition is the act or an instance of harassing, or disturbing, pestering, or troubling repeatedly; persecution. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions’ (EEOC) definition of harassment includes slurs, graffiti, offensive or derogatory comments, or other verbal or physical conduct. “Harassment is a form of employment discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, (ADA).” (EEOC.gov) The employee was a victim of harassment and subjected to unethical treatment by his co-workers and the company. He had to work in a hostile environment where his co-workers decided it was okay to harass him because of his race. The company received complaints about the white employees that were doing the harassing, but did nothing to intervene. The company failed the employee by not protecting his rights as an employee and are ultimately responsible for the unethical behavior of the other employees. Protections that are in place
Case Study
3/9/2014
A very clear example of harassment based on an employees’ race is evident in the lawsuit filed against MMR Constructors, Inc. in Arkansas. An African American employee was subjected to racial harassment by white employees that included racially offensive language, graffiti and death threats. White employees went as far as going to the black employees’ home in the middle of the night and threatened his life because he apparently reported the racially charged incidents to the company. The employee reported the “midnight visit” incident to the company and the company refused to take action against the employees because it did not happen at work. When a company overlooks incidents happening on and off the worksite, it gives the harasser the impression that the company condones the behavior. Harassment by definition is the act or an instance of harassing, or disturbing, pestering, or troubling repeatedly; persecution. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions’ (EEOC) definition of harassment includes slurs, graffiti, offensive or derogatory comments, or other verbal or physical conduct. “Harassment is a form of employment discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, (ADA).” (EEOC.gov) The employee was a victim of harassment and subjected to unethical treatment by his co-workers and the company. He had to work in a hostile environment where his co-workers decided it was okay to harass him because of his race. The company received complaints about the white employees that were doing the harassing, but did nothing to intervene. The company failed the employee by not protecting his rights as an employee and are ultimately responsible for the unethical behavior of the other employees. Protections that are in place
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