Ceisel Masonry in Illinois has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle a race and national origin discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced.
The EEOC’s suit charged that construction company violated federal anti-discrimination laws by subjecting its Hispanic workers to harassment based upon their race and national origin.
The EEOC brought its suit on behalf of a class of 10 Hispanic workers, alleged that Ceisel’s foremen and former superintendent would refer to the company’s Latino employees with derogatory terms such as “f---ing Mexicans,” “pork chop,” “Julio,” “spics,” “chico” and “wetback.” In addition, the EEOC and the former employees alleged that Hispanic workers were routinely exposed to racist graffiti.
In addition paying $500,000, the company agreed to provide all of its employees with training on how to prevent discrimination, as well as revise its policies on harassment and how to conduct harassment investigations. The decree also requires the company to hold its supervisors accountable if they do not comply with the company’s new anti-harassment and investigation policies.
In settling the lawsuit, the company admitted no wrongdoing and continued to deny the allegations.
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