National Tire and Battery (NTB), part of TBC Corp., has been ordered to pay $22,500 to a former employee in a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The suit alleges that an Arab and Muslim mechanic who worked at NTB’s Orland Park, and Matteson, Ill., locations, was harassed because of his religion and national origin.
According to the EEOC suit, managers and co-workers regularly called the mechanic “Taliban,” “al-Qaeda,” “bin Laden” and “terrorist” and accused him of making bombs. EEOC also claimed that NTB management was aware of the harassment, but did nothing.
Harassment based on national origin and religion violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to the EEOC.
“When employers learn of harassment, the law requires that they take prompt and effective action to stop it,” said John C. Hendrickson, regional attorney of EEOC’s Chicago District Office. “Unfortunately, that did not happen here. But we are pleased that NTB agreed to an early resolution of this case that provides for fair compensation to the employee who was harassed and implements measures that will help prevent others from suffering similar misconduct in the future.”
In addition to having to pay monetary relief to the employee, the two-year consent decree resolving the case prohibits NTB from engaging in national origin or religious harassment or retaliation in the future. It also requires that NTB provide training to its managers on harassment and how to respond to complaints of harassment and submit periodic reports to the EEOC about complaints of national origin or religious harassment or retaliation, the EEOC said.
“NTB Tire and Auto Service Centers is committed to the safety and well-being of our customers and associates. Harassment and misconduct have no place in our workplace.
“Regarding this incident, we are pleased there is resolution to this case, which dates back to incidents that took place between 2007-2009. The associates accused of participating in such conduct are no longer with the organization. NTB has shared its revised policies with the EEOC, which have been approved, and the Company is moving forward with its managerial training designed to further promote the well-being of all associates,” a spokesperson from TBC Corp. told Tire Review.
