It seems like a UPS facility in Kentucky doesn’t appear to understand that if you create a hostile environment for your workers, you may be liable to legal repercussions. Eight Black UPS employees in Lexington, Kentucky, have cited discrimination, hostile work environments, and having to endure the sight of a hanging black UPS doll for four days. When these workers raised concerns, UPS allegedly discriminated against one of the workers and retaliated against two others. The eight workers were awarded $5.3 million dollars.
Why Would You Hang A Black Doll?
Made by a UPS manager, an effigy of a person of color in the form of a black baby doll was used to implement a hostile environment towards Black workers. UPS cited that the doll was used for training purposes, and was not intended to offend anyone. However, the doll was hung by a noose for four days, between Aug. 9-13, 2012.
Both of the doll’s hands, plus one foot, were tied to the ladder. This formation was used to represent the three points of contact that is taught in UPS training to mitigate an accidental fall. The noose was tied around the doll’s neck, with the other end of the twine secured onto the ceiling. The lawsuit claims that UPS hung the doll by its neck so that it wouldn’t fall forward.
UPS is considering appealing. Susan Rosenberg, a UPS corporate employee, remarked that UPS has strict policies against discrimination and harassment. Still, five of the eight employees still work for UPS.
In today’s social environment, one would think that a place of employment wouldn’t be so tone deaf to casually hang a black doll from the ceiling by its neck. It doesn’t help that there is testimony that hostile, racially charged words were used in the workplace as well.
Do better, UPS.
Featured image by Flickr, available under an Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
