EEOC: Offensive behaviour ‘rife’ in Homeland Security office

NORFOLK, Va. – The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says the Department of Homeland Security’s investigative office in Virginia is “rife with offensive and racially hostile behaviour.”

According to a July report obtained by The Virginian-Pilot , investigators found that a supervisor had called black and Hispanic employees “monkeys” and an agent had a photo of a black child in a fried-chicken bucket.

The commission ordered the Norfolk office to give employees race-based harassment training, post a notice about the findings and consider disciplining the two responsible.

The decision issued in July comes after Special Agent Albert Whitney filed a complaint. The EEOC ruled Whitney hadn’t been a discrimination victim, but the decision says other black employees were subject to the conduct based on their race.

The office and Whitney’s attorney are appealing the ruling.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com