Beaumont Health to Pay $30,000 in EEOC Race Discrimination Lawsuit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2024

Beaumont Health to Pay $30,000 in EEOC Race Discrimination Lawsuit
Settles Federal Agency Charges That Health Care System Fired a Black Employee
Because of Her Race

DEARBORN, Mich. – Beaumont Health (now Corewell Health) will pay $30,000 and furnish other relief to settle a race discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Beaumont terminated a Black home health aide after an unwitnessed verbal conflict with a white co-worker about a dishwasher. Afterwards, both employees discussed the incident with the director. Despite the existence of a progressive discipline policy, the director fired the Black employee but failed to discipline the white employee for her role in the conflict. The African American employee had successfully worked for Beaumont for over 20 years.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit, Civil Action No. 2:24-cv-11783 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on July 10, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.

Under the terms of the consent decree settling the case, Corewell Health is enjoined from engaging in disparate treatment based on race and required to train certain managers, supervisors, and HR personnel on race discrimination. In addition, Corewell Health will pay $7,837.96 in back pay, along with $22,162.04 in compensatory damages, for a total of exactly $30,000.

“Federal law prohibits employers from treating employees differently because of their race,” said Kenneth L. Bird, the EEOC’s regional attorney in Indianapolis. “If discipline is required, employers must act lawfully by ensuring that race plays no part in the type of discipline the employer chooses to impose.”

Assistant Regional Attorney Omar Weaver added, “We are encouraged by the employer’s sincere efforts to work with the EEOC to reach an early resolution.”

For more information on race discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/racecolor-discrimination.

The EEOC’s Indianapolis District Office has jurisdiction over Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, and parts of Ohio.

The EEOC prevents and remedies unlawful employment discrimination and advances equal opportunity for all. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.

Contact:
EEOC Indianapolis District Office
115 W. Washington St.
South Tower, Suite 600
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Phone: 1-800-669-400
TTY: 1-800-669-6820
ASL video phone: 844-234-5122

Karen L. Brooks
Trial Attorney
313-774-0011
Karen.brooks@eeoc.gov

Kenneth L. Bird
Regional Attorney
463-999-1163
Kenneth.bird@eeoc.gov