According to the latest report, Tesla asked the judge to delay a lawsuit filed by California Civil Rights Agency alleging racial discrimination and harassment at Tesla’s factory in Fremont, Calif.
In filings with Oakland state courts, Tesla revealed that it was also being investigated by another civil rights agency into similar allegations, accusing both agencies of engaging in a “turf war.” the news was first reported by Reuters.
LAST FEBRUARY, CALIFORNIA’S DEPARTMENT OF FAIR EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING (DFEH) FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST TESLA, ACCUSING THE COMPANY OF OPERATING A “RACIALLY SEGREGATED” WORKPLACE.
IN COURT FILINGS THIS WEEK, TESLA REVEALED THAT IT IS ALSO UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (EEOC). ACCORDING TO REUTERS, THE COMPANY ACCUSED DFEH OF HASTING A LAWSUIT IN AN ATTEMPT TO CATCH UP WITH THE EEOC’S INVESTIGATION, CALLING IT A “NAKED INVESTIGATION.”
TESLA ASKED THE COURT TO SUSPEND DFEH’S LAWSUIT UNTIL IT WAS ABLE TO RESOLVE THE EEOC INVESTIGATION. THE COMPANY ALSO ACCUSED DFEH OF VIOLATING A STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES IT TO MEET CERTAIN THRESHOLDS BEFORE SUING EMPLOYERS.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME DFEH AND EEOC HAVE CLASHED OVER EMPLOYEE HARASSMENT CLAIMS. DFEH RECENTLY LOST THE CASE IN PREVENTING EEOC FROM REACHING A $18 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH ACTIVISION BLIZZARD OVER CLAIMS FOR GENDER-BASED DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT. LAST SUMMER, DFEH FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, CLAIMING THE COMPANY FOSTERED A CULTURE OF “ONGOING SEXUAL HARASSMENT.”
tesla faces numerous allegations of racial discrimination and harassment at its fremont factory. last October, a jury awarded $137 million in damages to a former black employee after accusing tesla of ignoring racial abuse and discrimination. (the judge later reduced the damages to $15 million.)
The company also paid $1 million to another former black employee who said a supervisor used N-word on him. Tesla currently faces a class-action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination at its flagship plant.