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CNN faces allegations of workplace discrimination and retaliation

On Behalf of | Dec 23, 2015 | Employment Disputes |

All Texas employees should be equally afforded the opportunity to succeed and be successful in their positions, but that is not always how the situations are handled. A writer/producer for CNN claims that he was not given the chance to learn new skills on the job and faced workplace discrimination. He believes that the color of his skin was the reason why he was passed over on positions for which he was qualified.

The plaintiff — who happens to be black — was hired by CNN in 2010. At the time of this writing, he is the only black writer-producer who works on any of the programs on CNN that CNN World Headquarters produces. In an attempt to be promoted in his career, the 51-year-old wanted to take advantage of the on-the-job training that was offered. However, he claims that the ability to learn at work was only provided to white workers.

A complaint was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission about the alleged discrimination, but the plaintiff believes that it had consequences. After the filing, the man tried to get promoted. He claims that he was not chosen and a white workers was hired instead who did not have the same level of experience. The plaintiff alleges that white employees were also shown preference in the way that they were disciplined. When the plaintiff did the same thing wrong as a white employees, he apparently was disciplined while they were not.

The plaintiff claims that his former supervisor — who was also black — was forced to quit his job because he had also filed a complaint with the EEOC. The plaintiff is accusing CNN of retaliation and workplace discrimination in a federal court outside of Texas. The writer-producer is seeking at least $500,000 in damages for his lawsuit.

Source: thewrap.com, “CNN Hit With Racial Discrimination Lawsuit by Producer“, Tim Kenneally, Dec. 11, 2015

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