In a bombshell lawsuit filed on Wednesday, former Neiman Marcus guest support worker, Porsche Murphy, alleges that the luxury retail giant ignored her repeated complaints about racial abuse from a colleague. Murphy claims the mistreatment persisted until she was unjustly fired after speaking out.
Neiman Marcus Ignored Racial Abuse : Title VII Claims Lodged
Murphy’s legal action asserts Title VII claims against Neiman Marcus and three individuals, including the white worker accused of racial slurs. Murphy contends that the defendants had a duty to prevent a discriminatory work environment but failed, leading to her dismissal.
Troubling Work Environment Unveiled
Hired in September 2019, Murphy claims that two months into her role, a white colleague began systematically logging her out of the company’s computer system. The alleged perpetrator’s actions hindered Murphy’s ability to fulfill critical job responsibilities, impacting customer service.
Neiman Marcus Ignored Racial Abuse : Futile Appeals to HR
Despite raising concerns with the human resources assistant manager, Murphy asserts that the company took no effective action against the accused co-worker. The white colleague allegedly continued using racial slurs against Murphy and other Black employees, creating a hostile work environment.
Neiman Marcus Ignored Racial Abuse : Intervention Denied
Even after multiple discussions with HR, the racial abuse persisted. In a shocking revelation, Murphy claims that when she considered involving the police, the HR assistant manager threatened to obstruct any investigation, denying access to evidence and witness statements.
Abrupt Dismissal Adds Insult to Injury
Following an incident in December 2019, where Murphy’s co-worker allegedly logged her out of the system, preventing her from fulfilling a customer order, the situation escalated. Murphy asserts that her attempts to involve management were met with a forced early departure, while her white colleague faced no repercussions.
Unjust Termination and False Accusations
On December 19, 2019, Neiman Marcus terminated Murphy without cause, further exacerbating the situation by falsely claiming she was involved in a physical altercation at work. Murphy argues this misinformation hindered her ability to secure unemployment benefits.
Legal Action Seeks Redress
Murphy’s lawsuit seeks compensation for lost wages and benefits, incidental damages, and attorney fees. As this case unfolds, Neiman Marcus faces scrutiny over its alleged failure to address racial abuse within its ranks.
