PG&E Employee Sues For Race Discrimination and Retaliation
A longtime PG&E employee sued the utility company for discrimination, claiming he was subjected to a hostile work environment based on his race. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in December 2021.
Emanuel Lankford, a San Francisco resident, worked for PG&E for more than 15 years. He is currently employed as a substation supervisor at the company.
Lankford, who is African American, claimed he faced retaliation for speaking up about the discrimination. He was allegedly denied bonuses and overlooked for promotions, which were awarded to white coworkers instead. According to the lawsuit, Lankford interviewed for a managerial position, but PG&E gave the job to a white employee who had no substation experience.
A hostile work environment is one in which workplace harassment is so severe and pervasive that it becomes intolerable, hurting the employee’s ability to do their job. The harassing or discriminatory conduct is unlawful if it is based on a legally protected class. In this case, the discrimination was based on race, but there are many other characteristics protected under California law such as gender, age, national origin and disability.
The lawsuit is seeking $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Lankford is hoping that taking legal action will urge the company to make “some meaningful, sustainable change” to how it treats workers.
Besides Lankford’s lawsuit, PG&E faced an earlier discrimination claim from an African American former employee in Sacramento. She alleged she was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for complaining about discrimination at the utility.
Discriminating against a worker based on their race is unlawful in California. If you have suffered race discrimination in the workplace, you can hold your employer accountable for the illegal treatment. Discuss your situation with an Oakland employment lawyer at Erlich Law Firm. We can help you pursue compensation through an employment lawsuit.
Read more
AARP Study Reveals Ongoing Struggles Against Workplace Age Discrimination
Age discrimination remains a persistent issue in workplaces, particularly for workers aged 50 and older. A study by AARP revealed that six in 10 workers over 50 have witnessed or experienced subtle…
Disney Settles Gender Pay Lawsuit for $43 Million, Impacting Thousands of Female Workers
Across industries, workers often face pay disparities that can lead to financial struggles, stress and a sense of injustice. Unfortunately, unequal pay is not uncommon, even at some of the largest and…
Radisson Hotel in Oakland Sued for Alleged Wage Theft of Over $400K: Key Takeaways for Workers
Fair wages are a fundamental right for California workers. However, unpaid wages continue to affect employees in the hospitality industry and other sectors. Wage theft occurs when employers illegally deny workers the…
Oakland’s $2.6 Million Wake-Up Call: Addressing Workplace Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a reality that far too many employees face, and the recent $2.6 million jury verdict against the city of Oakland sheds light on this persistent issue….
SEEN ON
