A Lihue motorcycle dealership violated federal law when it fired an employee for advising other workers of their right to complain about racial harassment, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged in a lawsuit filed Friday in Honolulu.
The commission, in a news release, said Daniel Young in 2014 worked in the sales and rentals departments at Aloha Auto Group’s Harley-Davidson dealership on Kauai.
Young was fired after he told a group of other workers about their right to file a hostile work environment complaint, the commission’s news release said.
Young had been informed by a group of Asian-American and Pacific islander employees that they had been subjected to racially discriminatory comments by the dealership’s general manager.
The company said in a statement Friday that it did not discriminate against Young.
Chief Operating Officer Russell Wong said: “Former employee Young was separated from Aloha Auto’s Kauai Harley-Davidson dealership for disrespecting and undermining the leadership of the Harley-Davidson team on Kauai.
“As an Asian-American and Pacific islander, I understand the diversity of Hawaii’s workplace,” Wong said. “The company does not discriminate against Asian-Americans and Pacific islanders nor does it condone retaliation against its employees who assert their employment rights. To the contrary, it has policies in place that prohibit conduct that violates federal and state employment laws and does not tolerate such conduct in the workplace.”
The lawsuit seeks back pay, benefits and compensatory and punitive damages for Young, as well as injunctive relief intended to prevent any future discrimination in the workplace.
“Retaliation is the most common type of discrimination charge EEOC receives,” said Anna Park, regional attorney for EEOC’s Los Angeles District, which includes Hawaii in its jurisdiction. “Informing other employees of their workplace rights is a protected activity, and trying to quash that right is unlawful.”
Glory Gervacio Saure, director of EEOC’s Honolulu office, added, “Hawaii is a diverse society with people from different racial backgrounds. Employers need to be cognizant of this and ensure a workplace that is free of racial hostility and discrimination.”
According to the company’s website, Aloha Auto Group owns and operates a chain of car and motorcycle dealerships throughout Hawaii.
