A staffing buyer, Barrett Distribution Center LLC, will pay $60,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging it retaliated against an employee at its Memphis, Tennessee, facility after the worker complained about bias, the US Equal Employment Opportunities Commission reported April 30.
Francisco Alvarez worked at Barrett, a warehouse distributor, as an on-site manager for Supreme Staffing LLC, according to court records. Alvarez allegedly witnessed Barrett giving preferential treatment to non-Hispanic workers, including denying Hispanic workers opportunities for perm jobs. He also allegedly saw a human resources manager rip up an application for employment in English after another worker couldn’t fill it out without assistance.
The lawsuit says Alvarez was removed from Barrett less than a month after the complaints. Supreme later terminated Alvarez, according to court documents.
In addition to the financial settlement, Barrett agreed to create an anti-retaliation policy and distribute it to all staffing firms with which it works. Barrett must also conduct annual training designed to prevent retaliation and provide semi-annual records to the EEOC on any employee who complains about discrimination in placement, referral or selection.
“As retaliation claims continue to rise, we applaud those who are willing to bravely step up and report discriminatory treatment,” Faye Williams, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Memphis District Office, said in a press release. “We also commend Barrett for its commitment to reaching an early resolution that will compensate the affected former employee as well as ensuring that all staffing agencies Barrett works with are aware of Barrett’s pledge to combat unlawful discrimination and retaliation in its workspace.”
Supreme Staffing LLC, also based in Memphis, is a defendant in this case as well. It has filed a motion to dismiss.
Both Barrett and Supreme Staffing have been contacted for comment.
