A Florida construction company has agreed to pay $1.6 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of Black and Hispanic workers who claimed they faced racial and ethnic slurs, discriminatory assignments, and a hostile work environment.

J.A. Croson, a plumbing and HVAC contractor based in Sorrento, Florida, will pay $850,000 directly to three Black employees who alleged racial discrimination and retaliation after they were either fired or forced to resign. Additionally, the company will establish a $750,000 fund to compensate other former Black and Hispanic employees who reported experiencing similar treatment.

The lawsuit, initially filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 2022, detailed numerous instances where company managers supervising plumbing apprentices allegedly referred to Black employees using racial slurs such as “n***er,” “boy,” and “biscuit lips,” while Hispanic workers were called derogatory names like “wetbacks” and “stupid Mexicans.” Some managers reportedly displayed Confederate flags on their vehicles, which were visible during team meetings held in company parking lots.

The complaint further alleged that Black and Hispanic workers were consistently assigned more physically demanding and less favorable tasks, such as digging ditches or using jackhammers, which did not contribute to their apprenticeship credits. In contrast, White employees were assigned tasks like plumbing and pipework, which were more aligned with their training.

One of the lead plaintiffs, Joseph Hollis, recounted an incident where a supervisor reportedly said, “Let the n***ers dig,” when referring to Black employees being given more strenuous tasks. Hollis also claimed he was made to move hundreds of toilets without the aid of motorized tools from a building’s roof to the first floor, while enduring racist remarks from managers both on and off the job site.

The EEOC argued that the actions described in the lawsuit were violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial harassment and retaliation. The Act also mandates that employers take immediate action to investigate and address any misconduct once it is reported.

In response to the lawsuit, J.A. Croson denied all allegations, asserting that their employment practices were based on legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons. The company maintained that they had taken steps to ensure a workplace free from unlawful discrimination, and that any negative employment outcomes experienced by the plaintiffs were a result of their own workplace behavior.

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