Car Dealership to Pay $150K to Black Employees

The Henderson, Nevada-based car dealership subjected the two employees to discrimination, harassment and retaliation, reported the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The EEOC filed suit against the company on behalf of the two individuals in September 2010 in the U.S. District  Court for the District of Nevada (EEOC v. Shack-Findlay Automotive, LLC d/b/a Findlay Honda and Findlay Automotive Group, Inc., No. 2:10-cv-01692-KJD-RJJ). In its lawsuit, the EEOC asserted that a parts department manager made racially derogatory comments and jokes on a near-daily basis and imposed stricter work-related rules on black employees than non-black employees. Two black employees were eventually fired, one after communicating that he was going to file a discrimination charge against the company.

Findlay Honda agreed to enter into a consent decree with the EEOC resolving the matter. Aside from the monetary relief for the victims, the consent decree also requires that the company hire an outside EEO consultant; distribute its policies and complaint procedures with respect to workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation; track future complaints and provide annual equal employment opportunity training.