Three employees of Sandia Drilling Company have filed an employee discrimination lawsuit against their employer and company supervisors, alleging that they worked in a racially hostile environment with the company. The Southeast Texas Record reports that the company supervisors regularly and frequently called plaintiffs Montrel D. Pipkins, Meldun L. Williamson and Brian I. Rocha degrading names.
But the racial discrimination claim doesn't stop with just the racial slurs. The complaint alleges that company supervisors gave preferential treatment to white employees, accused black employees of stealing, and even witheld pay raises and other entitlements because of race. The employees filed complaints with the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission about the alleged harassment.
Racial discrimination in the workplace violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to FindLaw. It's common for the EEOC to investigate charges of race discrimination or race-related retaliation, but it's also common for Houston employment lawyers to get involved in racial discrimination cases as well. Any individual who believes that his or her employment rights have been violated has the right to file a charge of discrimination with EEOC, but the charge must be filed within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation. The 180 day time limit can sometimes be extended to 300 days if the charge is also covered by a state or local anti-discrimination law.
According to the Southeast Texas Record, plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Sandia Drilling Company are seeking damages for mental anguish, humiliation, financial loss, pecuniary losses, emotional distress, pain and suffering, punitive damages, court costs, and attorney's fees.
Related Resources:
- Discrimination and Harassment: Resources (FindLaw)
- Employees Rights 101 (FindLaw)
- Locate a Houston Employment Lawyer (FindLaw)
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