In a lawsuit filed by the EEOC, Morton Salt is facing allegations of workplace discrimination and retaliation against a Black employee, Daryl Dorsey, who also has a disability. The civil rights lawsuit claims that Dorsey, who suffers from gout, endured months of racial and disability-based discrimination before being wrongfully terminated in 2022. The lawsuit, filed on September 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleges that Morton Salt violated both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
Dorsey’s troubles began shortly after he started working at Morton Salt in May 2022, when he was mentored by a white co-worker, Kurt Conkle, who had a history of racially abusive behavior. Conkle had been previously reported by employees for using racial slurs, including the n-word, and creating a hostile work environment. Despite these complaints, the company had rehired Conkle just a week after initially firing him in 2019 for similar conduct. Dorsey soon found himself subjected to demeaning comments during training sessions, where Conkle implied that Dorsey and others were slow and unable to follow directions.
In July 2022, Dorsey filed a formal complaint with human resources about Conkle’s behavior, but the company failed to take meaningful action. The very next day, Dorsey received an unsatisfactory performance evaluation, citing an “altercation with Kurt Conkle” as the reason. This poor evaluation, the lawsuit argues, was an act of retaliation for reporting Conkle’s discriminatory behavior. Dorsey’s situation worsened in August when he discovered his car’s brakes had been tampered with and suspected that Conkle or someone else had done it in retaliation. Despite Dorsey requesting security footage to investigate the incident, the company did not follow through on his concerns.
In an unexpected twist, Dorsey was transferred to a different department without explanation, a move he had not requested. During this time, internal emails revealed that a supervisor raised concerns about Dorsey’s ability to work due to his gout, suggesting that his disability might affect his job performance. A month later, on September 22, 2022, Dorsey was fired from Morton Salt. The company’s reasons for the termination, according to the lawsuit, were pretextual and part of a pattern of discriminatory practices.
Dorsey continued to fight for justice after his termination, filing a formal complaint with the EEOC on September 27, 2022. Despite this, Morton Salt refused to reinstate him. The EEOC, after attempting to reach a settlement through its conciliation process, proceeded with the lawsuit, citing violations of both the Civil Rights Act and the ADA. The complaint states that white employees in similar situations were treated more favorably, further highlighting the company’s racial bias.
The EEOC is seeking compensation for Dorsey, including back pay, emotional distress damages, and punitive damages. It also calls for Morton Salt to implement policies ensuring equal employment opportunities and to address its history of discrimination. The lawsuit is part of a larger effort by the EEOC to combat racial discrimination, with two other similar lawsuits filed on the same day.
This case also puts a spotlight on Morton Salt’s public statements regarding racial justice. Following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others in 2020, the company had issued a statement committing to combat racism and improve its internal policies. However, the lawsuit raises serious questions about the company’s actual commitment to fostering a non-discriminatory work environment, as it accuses Morton Salt of failing to protect its Black employees from racist abuse and retaliation.
As of now, Morton Salt has not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The company’s silence contrasts with its previous pledges to support the Black community and review its employment practices. The case will likely test Morton Salt’s public declarations of social justice against the reality of its workplace practices.
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