ExxonMobil was hit with another racial discrimination lawsuit late last month by a Black employee who alleged that the company tolerated a hostile working environment at its Baton Rouge refining and chemical complex.
Levar Robinson, a process technician at the Baton Rouge facility, filed the federal lawsuit May 30 in the Middle District of Louisiana, arguing that ExxonMobil sanctioned unlawful harassment directed at him in violation of Robinson’s rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Another worker at the plant, Marcus Cook, allegedly engaged in hostile actions against Robinson in April of 2022, according to the complaint.
“At least since August 2021, Cook’s misconduct has been repetitive and continuous on a long-term basis …” the lawsuit states. “Several witnesses stated that Cook then called Robinson the ‘N-word.’ One said it was ‘ignorant N-word.’ Another said it was “stupid N-word.’ …”
Robinson’s lawsuit comes in the wake of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filing a complaint in March against ExxonMobil on behalf of another Black employee, Milferd McGhee. McGhee found a hangman’s noose at his work station at the Baton Rouge site and alleged that ExxonMobil failed to take actions to end such workplace harassment.
An ExxonMobil spokesman indicated that the company does not comment on pending litigation or issues involving contractors, but he did provide a description of the company’s policy on hostile work environments.
“We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination in any form by or toward employees, contractors, suppliers or customers,” the spokesman told the Louisiana Record in an email. “Employees who engage in such behavior are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.”
In his filing, Robinson said he heard Cook say that if he were fired, Cook would “take people out with him.” At one point, ExxonMobil later placed Cook on “decision-making leave,” or DML, the most severe discipline short of termination, but it wasn’t adequate to prevent further harassment, according to the lawsuit.