A group of former employees of the New York City branch of Sweetgreen, a popular health-food chain, have filed a lawsuit alleging that managers had a culture of racial discrimination, including the use of the N-word.
According to the lawsuit, the store was managed almost entirely by white people and ethnic minority employees were excluded from promotions and advancement opportunities. The workplace was allegedly filled with racial slurs, with the N-word being used repeatedly.
The lawsuit claims that Sweetgreen has known about this problem for the past several years, but has not taken any meaningful action to address it. The company has allegedly failed to respond to complaints from employees of color about the hostile work environment.
The lawsuit states that employees of color were assigned to perform tasks that were more strenuous and time-consuming than their white counterparts and were demeaned and belittled by management on a daily basis.
The plaintiffs are seeking a permanent injunction that would prevent Sweetgreen from engaging in similar discriminatory practices in the future. They are also seeking compensatory damages for their emotional distress and attorneys’ fees.
This lawsuit serves as a reminder that although we live in a society where racial discrimination is illegal, it still exists in many workplaces. Companies are obligated to take the necessary steps to ensure that their work environment is a safe and respectful one for employees of all backgrounds. Failing to do so may result in legal action.
