Former Employees Are Suing KidsPeace for Racial Discrimination

(Photo : Reuters)

There had been a lot of stories of discriminatory practices in workplaces in different places all over the United States of America. Lawsuits are mostly being filed by people of color for being discriminated against by the company they work for.

Most of the lawsuits filed by these people reach headlines especially when the companies they are suing are large and influential ones. Examples of these companies are Wal-Mart, General Electric, and Abercrombie & Fitch. 

There are news articles that tell the story of big companies being sued for racial discrimination. The cases that these big companies faced had become a warning to other companies. These incidents had also served as proof of the many ways on how people of color in the workplace are being treated. This news aims to encourage each business in the country to promote diversity in the workplace.

Even though a man of African-American origin had attained the country's top job in the year 2008, numerous diversified workers are not receiving the same luck. Due to racial discrimination, people of color are earning less than white people, they are left behind in terms of promotion in their companies, and many get fired.

Recently, a new case of racial discrimination has been reported on the news.

Former employees are filing a case of racial discrimination in the workplace against KidsPeace, their former employer. It was also said that the employees were threatened by their company top 

KidsPeace is a charitable organization based in the United States of America. It is headquarted in Philadelphia. It helps support the behavioral needs of children and promote good mental health for the youth and their families.

The name of the plaintiffs (former black and Latino employees of KidsPeace) are Dusan Littlejohn, Ashley Gonzalez, and Janette Gonzalez. They filed the lawsuit last October 2019. Each of the three plaintiffs was hired in 2014 and 2015 by the organization. They were recently fired in October 2018 after their evaluation after a training session by the company.

The black and Latino employees worked as health technicians in the company. They were being called racial names such as "the two Spanish girls from New York" and "he big Black guy." According to the statements of the plaintiffs, their dismissal from the company was unlawful and discriminatory. They stated that after their lunch break, they were immediately sent home, suspended, and relieved from their positions in the company.

According to the lawsuit, Ashley, with Puerto Rican origin, was asked by a co-worker to refrain from speaking Spanish. She was even threatened with deportation.

Janette, also of Puerto Rican origin, was also victimized with racial discrimination in the country when she was asking for help with her tax form and was told that all people from Puerto Rico are having problems with their money.

According to the official statement of KidsPeace, the allegations pointed at them are without sufficient evidence and that their company promotes a good environment for their diversified workforce. They said that they will do everything in their power to defend their company.

A pre-trial will be held in February with the District Judge of Philadelphia named Chad f. Kenney.