Reference no: EM133681879

Question

Southern Bell Systems hired Mr. Johnson as a clerk in the shipping department in 2013. Mr. Johnson held that job for seven years until the company terminated his employment in 2020. During his tenure at Southern Bell Systems, Mr. Johnson received annual raises and exhibited excellent performance in his job duties.

1. Mr. Johnson's job duties at Southern Bell Systems entailed data entry and filing work. At no point in time, did Mr. Johnson's duties include janitorial work.

2. On or around January 17, 2020, Mr. Johnson's boss, Tom Green, ordered Mr. Johnson to clean up the parts area in the warehouse. This type of cleaning work was not part of Mr. Johnson's job duties. Moreover, the person that actually caused the mess was Mr. Watson, Mr. Johnson's co-worker. Mr. Watson is Caucasian.

3. Upon being given the "clean up" order, Mr. Johnson inquired of Mr. Green as to why he had been ordered to clean up the mess and not his co-worker who had actually created the mess in the first place and was in the same department as Mr. Johnson. Mr. Green responded that "blacks clean better" and "just do what you are told."

4. Mr. Johnson complained to Mr. Green on the spot that Mr. Green's action constituted illegal race discrimination. For that reason, he refused to follow the "clean up" order.

5. Southern Bell Systems terminated Mr. Johnson's employment the next day, on or about January 18, 2020, allegedly for refusing to follow an order from a supervisor. What claims can I assert?