The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has reached a settlement with a Minnesota-based transportation company after finding the company discriminated against and fired an employee because of his race and national origin.
The department is not naming the company or the employee to protect the individual’s identity during what it described as a time of heightened threats toward immigrants.
Under the agreement, the company will pay the former employee $180,000 and implement changes to strengthen its anti-discrimination policies and reporting procedures. The company must enhance anti-harassment training, improve reporting protocols, and log and share discrimination complaints with the department.
An investigation by the department found that between April and July 2022, the employee was repeatedly subjected to racist stereotypes and remarks about his accent and country of origin by a coworker. The employee reported the harassment to a supervisor, but the company failed to investigate or address the concerns and continued scheduling the two employees together.
The department also found the company terminated the employee, citing performance issues, but did not provide evidence to support that claim. Based on its findings, the department concluded the company violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act by allowing a hostile work environment and firing the employee because of his race and national origin.
“Immigrant communities are confronting cruel and dehumanizing treatment, and while we cannot stop every act of racism and xenophobia, we will use every tool available under state law to hold businesses accountable and protect fundamental civil rights for Minnesotans,” said Commissioner Rebecca Lucero. “No one should be targeted, mistreated, or pushed aside at work because of their race or where they come from. This settlement sends a strong message: discrimination is illegal, and we will enforce state civil rights laws to ensure that people can live and work in dignity.”
