ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced a lawsuit against QWP Holdings LLC, doing business as Profile Cabinet and Design, for allegations of discriminating against two black employees because of their race.
"EEOC is committed to eliminating race discrimination in employment," said James R. Neely, Jr., director of EEOC's St. Louis District Office. "Employees cannot be held to different disciplinary standards based on their race."
The two African-American employees, Brandon Fitzpatrick and Theopilis Bryant, were allegedly fired for falsifying Bryant’s time card. The EEOC says a third employee, who was white, was not fired – despite evidence that he may have been the one responsible for the time card issue. The EEOC charges the company actually fired the employees because of their race. Alleged conduct of this nature violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
"Despite [more than] 50 years of federal protections for black workers, race discrimination in employment remains a problem," said Andrea G. Baran, EEOC's regional attorney in St. Louis. "EEOC treats these complaints seriously and will take the steps necessary - including going to court - to fight race discrimination in the workplace.”