August 25, 2022
Tesla Inc.’s request to throw out a racial discrimination complaint by California’s Department of Fair Employment Housing was tentatively denied on Tuesday (Aug. 23).
DFEH describes the San Francisco Bay Area factory as a “racially segregated workplace.” Since looking into complaints from hundreds of Black workers, the DFEH unearthed evidence of mistreatment and abuse that no worker should ever be subjected to. The three-year investigation of Tesla’s Fremont plant yielded evidence of harassment, unequal pay, and retaliation in the workplace in California against Black workers by predominantly Latino workers.
Furthermore, the suit claims that Black workers at Tesla face frequent racial slurs and see racist graffiti in restrooms, workstations, eating stations, and other areas. Additionally, according to the lawsuit, Black factory workers received lower pay than their non-Black counterparts for completing essentially the same work.
Tesla’s Final Chance to overturn the ruling on harassment, unequal pay, and retaliation in the workplace in California against black workers:
Tesla’s final chance to convince Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo to reconsider his ruling is scheduled for Wednesday (Aug. 24). However, in the preliminary ruling, Grillo called allegations from the DFEH’s suit “adequately specific.” Conversely, Tesla’s representation renders the claims “uncertain, ambiguous, and unintelligible,” while Tesla publicly declares the suit against harassment and retaliation in the workplace in California “misguided.”
Department of Fair Employment and Housing v. Tesla Inc., 22CV006830, California Superior Court, Alameda County
There are many documented firsthand accounts from Black employees about the specific injustices they suffered during their time working at the Bay Area factory and how they are coping with the repercussions of the abuse.
Since this is a rapidly evolving case, more updates are likely to come. Learn more about the case here: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/tesla-must-face-californias-rampant-workplace-racism-suit-1
If you are the victim of discrimination at work or require a hostile work environment lawyer, contact us and request a free consultation.