ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Aug. 17 against Life University Inc., the United States’ largest chiropractic college, for allegations of treating two black employees differently because of their race.
"An employer should not treat any employee differently simply because of their race," said Bernice Williams-Kimbrough, director of the EEOC's Atlanta District Office.
According to the EEOC, two financial aid counselors at the university – Channon Williams and Shaundy Thomas – were subjected to harsher discipline by the financial aid department’s director due to their race. The EEOC says the same director gave less severe punishments or no punishments to Caucasian financial aid counselors who committed the same or similar supposed offenses.
Williams and Thomas complained to Life University’s human resources department but were allegedly fired a short time after. The university’s alleged actions violate Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
"Employers should never terminate an employee for complaining about discrimination and exercising his or her federally protected rights,” said Antonette Sewell, regional attorney for the Atlanta District Office. “Instead, employers should strive to create a culture where discrimination is not tolerated and complaints are welcome."