Three ex-Tesla employees have filed a lawsuit against the carmaker alleging that the Fremont factory is a hostile work environment for black employees.
The suit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, says that Owen Diaz and his son, Demetric, were called the N-word repeatedly. Additionally, Demetric Diaz claims that he was told he was just a replaceable temporary worker and was ultimately dismissed two months after starting as a production technician in August 2015.
While continuing to work at the factory, Owen Diaz says he frequently faced harassment and even found a racist drawing. He left Tesla in May 2016.
Alongside the claims made by Owen and Demetric Diaz, a third African-American man, Lamar Patterson, says he was subject to insensitive racist remarks, The Mercury News reports.
Responding to the lawsuit, a Tesla spokesman denied the allegations and said the workers failed to raise complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Department of Fair Employment and Housing while working at the company.
“Given our size, we recognize that unfortunately at times there will be cases of harassment or discrimination in corners of the company. From what we know so far, this does not seem to be such a case,” the spokesman said.
The suit is seeking unspecified damages.
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