The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against Elderwood at Burlington (Vt.) Sept. 6 for alleged racial harassment of its employees.
According to the lawsuit, starting in 2020, certain white residents of the facility repeatedly directed offensive racial slurs toward Black staff members. The suit alleges that despite managers and supervisors witnessing some incidents and numerous complaints, the facility told employees that residents could say what they wanted.
"Racial harassment in the workplace is never acceptable, no matter who engages in the harassment," said Timothy Riera, acting director of the EEOC's New York District Office. "This harassment was especially grotesque, and should have been addressed quickly but was allowed to continue. An employer cannot ignore egregious racial harassment simply because the harassers are long-term care facility residents."