SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Tesla Inc. has been ordered to pay almost $137 million to a Black Ex-Tesla Employee who claimed he was subjected to racial harassment at the electric carmaker’s facility in San Francisco Bay Area.
Diaz said in a complaint that while working at Tesla’s Fremont factory in 2015 and 2016, he was harassed and subjected to “daily racial epithets,” including the “N-word.” Diaz worked as an elevator operator on a contract basis.
The complaint claims that Tesla’s progressive image was a front to hide its regressive, degrading treatment of African-American employees.
Diaz told the New York Times, “It took four difficult years to get to this point.” “It seems like a huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders.”
It was unclear whether Tesla will appeal the judgment right away. Tesla did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press requesting a comment on Monday night.
The decision, if maintained, would be a setback for a corporation that has faced numerous claims of workplace misconduct but compels employees to address issues through forced arbitration, which the company has seldom lost.
Diaz did not require to sign an arbitration agreement since he was hired through a staffing agency.