Employer's delayed response leads to hostile environment trial

An employee who initially complained about unequal pay filed several race-based claims against his employer based on a supervisor's alleged retaliatory actions. Although the employer was successful in having several claims dismissed, the court allowed the employee's hostile work environment claim to proceed to trial based largely on the company's delay in responding to his complaints and a coworker's testimony, which corroborated some of the charges. The court's decision highlights the importance of taking prompt remedial action in response to a worker's complaints about harassment and discrimination.

Initial pay equity complaint lays groundwork

In December 2015, Roderick Belson, an African-American employee of the Office of Incident and Investigation at the Louisiana Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), complained because he said he was receiving less pay than white coworkers based on his race. He eventually withdrew the claim.

After the appointment of a new supervisor in January 2016, Belson raised new allegations on which he eventually filed suit in federal court in New Orleans.

Title VII retaliation claim fails for lack of evidence