A distributing company has agreed to pay $145,000 to settle charges it fired a black employee at its Golden facility after he complained that a white colleague was making racial slurs.
In settling the charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Exel, Inc. admitted no guilt. A lawyer for the company, Heather Vickles, couldn’t be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Exel, a transportation company that operates in 135 countries, agreed to provide training to employees on how to avoid discrimination. It also will insure that employees have a complaint procedure so they can voice concerns about discrimination.
The EEOC filed the suit last year after traffic clerk Clifford Baker was fired by Exel. The agency claimed Baker was terminated because he is African- American and because he complained about racially offensive comments made by a colleague.
“We are happy with this resolution,” said EEOC Denver regional attorney Joseph H. Mitchell. “We hope that the training Exel will provide will help ensure that this situation never reoccurs.”
Baker’s award consists of back wages, compensatory damages and attorney fees, said Nancy Weeks, EEOC supervisory trial attorney. U.S. District Judge Richard P. Matsch signed a consent decree resolving the suit in federal court in Denver.
Exel provides warehouse and distribution services in Golden to Coors Brewing Co. Coors had no connection to the case, said Weeks.
Staff writer Tom McGhee can be reached at 303-820-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com.
