Tesla vehicles have become popular in Seattle and around the country, but the company has continued to receive unfavorable publicity on several fronts. As just one example, a group of 15 former and current black employees of the electric vehicle manufacturer filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the company in late June, making it at least the second one the company has faced.
Tesla continues to allow discriminatory practices
The lawsuit details widespread claims of racial discrimination at Tesla, including:
- Use of the “N” word and other discriminatory terms
- Racist graffiti left on walls of bathrooms, lockers and workstations
- Drawings of swastikas
- Retaliation by management when workers complained
One former worker complained that she was also sexually harassed in addition to suffering racial discrimination. Other complaints include sudden firings with no cause, promotions denied on the basis of race and a pattern of giving black workers the most physically demanding jobs.
Tesla has faced a variety of lawsuits from former employees, including one in 2021 where a black elevator worker accused the company of not doing enough to prevent racial discrimination and was awarded $15 million in damages.
California governmental agencies and the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission continue to investigate Tesla. The company’s Fremont factory reportedly has a racially segregated environment where employees are frequently subject to racial slurs.
Your right to a safe and non-discriminatory workplace
Under the 1964 Civil Rights Act, employees have the right to a safe workplace free from various types of discrimination.
If you believe you have been discriminated against by your employer, you have a right to prove that charge by filing a complaint with the EEOC. Even though your employer may have faced discrimination lawsuits in the past, some companies continue a pattern of discrimination that remains illegal under federal law.