It is important that Texas workers understand their rights. In particular, if someone feels uncomfortable or unsafe in their workplace due to negative, potentially hurtful acts by fellow workers, it is important to reach out for help. This can be easier said than done, though, as these types of claims can be met with resistance or simply ignored by employers. In some cases, there can even be retaliation by co-workers, which only leads to more harassment or possibly workplace discrimination.
One Harris County man feels like he was subjected to hostility while working at the Dallas Housing Authority (DHA). The native Nigerian had been hired as an administrator for the company. He assesses that other workers rejected him because of his race, finding it difficult to take instructions from someone of a different ethnic background.
There was one specific incident in which he was not only subjected to a derogatory racial slur, but he was actually physically attacked as well. Apparently, he had previously filed complaints with the DHA, and was later dismissed for what they described as failure to meet performance standards. He believes this action was retaliatory in response to him reporting some of those previous incidents.
The claimant, who had worked for the Houston Housing Authority before moving on to the DHA, seeks monetary damages as a result of the discrimination and treatment he faced. The decision hangs in the balance of the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas, and one can only hope that justice will be served. Regardless of the outcome in this particular case, it is clear that cases regarding workplace discrimination must be properly handled in order to be resolved.
Source: The Southeast Texas Record, Dallas Housing Authority fired employee because of national origin, lawsuit says, John Suayan, Nov. 4, 2013
