The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the suit at the end of September against Packaging Corp. of America and Schwarz Partners LP alleging the two employees faced racist taunts from 2013 to 2017. Schwarz co-owned the plant operated by Packaging Corp. of America until 2017 and managed human resources, according to the suit.
In another incident, a shift leader drew a Confederate flag on a paper roll. One of the worker in August 2017 emailed the HR manager about the flag, as well as ‘long live the confederacy’ graffiti, the racist language and other abuse.
“(He) explained that the harassment was ongoing, and identified the perpetrator,” the suit notes.
“Despite the report, Human Resources Manager failed to conduct an (adequate) investigation into the harassment.” Schwarz did not comment. Packaging Corp. of America, in a statement, noted that it “is committed to advancing equal opportunity in the workplace.”