The EEOC is charged with making sure that employees are not subjected to discrimination on the basis of their race, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability status, or gender. For most of these classes, protection is applied equally to all people, meaning, for example, that both men and women can allege gender discrimination. The one outlier is discrimination on the basis of age. In age cases, only people who are forty and older are protected by statute.

Locally, the EEOC in Charlotte is pursuing a complaint that three white women were subjected to racial harassment while working as housekeepers employed by a hotel in Mooresville, NC, after their employer failed to respond to their complaints. The EEOC stated that “All employees deserve and should expect a workplace that is free of racial harassment. The EEOC will continue to stand watch and demand that all types of unlawful harassment are eradicated from the workplace.” https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-sues-tmf-mooresville-racial-harassment-and-constructive-discharge-hampton-inn

In the lawsuit the EEOC alleges that the claimants were subjected to comments and conduct that created a hostile work environment because of their race. The general manager was made aware of the conduct and comments made but failed to take action to stop the racial harassment. The owner was also informed. Finally, due to the severe harassment, one of the claimants quit her job.

If an employee has a complaint about their working conditions that includes comments or actions being taken because of their race, the employer must investigate that complaint and if substantiated, take action to fix it or they could find themselves as part of a discrimination lawsuit.