Former Disney Employee Sues for Discrimination

The employee alleges he once found a noose made of duct tape in his office. He also allegedly was not allowed breaks for prayer during Ramadan. Plaintiff further says he was unfairly passed up for promotions and that the actions against him were a response to his Moroccan nationality.

Plaintiff is seeking $75,000 for mental distress, the damage to his professional reputation, and loss of wages, according to a report from the Orlando Sentinel. He had worked for Disney for about 25 years when he was terminated in 2014, according to the article, most recently as a premium and special events coordinator.

While the noose incident was investigated by police, no charges were filed, but plaintiff feels the intent of such actions were clear and hostile.

Our Los Angeles employee discrimination attorneys know that even if companies have good intentions, discrimination comes in many forms. Diverse hiring practices do little good without powerful and consistent enforcement of discrimination policies at all levels. We have years of experience fighting for the rights of employees and will assist you in planning your discrimination case.

According to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Sec. 2000e-2, employers are forbidden from discriminating against employees or applicants “because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”

This is not the first time the company has come under fire of discriminatory accusations, though the previous case was a little closer to home for our firm. Another employee with Moroccan roots filed a lawsuit (Boudlal v. The Disney Company, et al) against Disney in 2012 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California for harassment and religious discrimination, this time at the Disneyland park. Plaintiff alleges she was not permitted to wear her hijab while working at the Storytelling Café in Anaheim, Calif., and was given the option instead of working in the back where she could not be seen by guests. She also claims she experienced harassment throughout her employment and alleges management eventually told her to stop reporting incidents.

While large companies like Disney are put under the spotlight when claims are filed, many employees endure discriminatory behavior every day and do not feel like they have opportunities for recourse. If you are experiencing harassment or discrimination in the workplace as a result of your nation of origin or religion, our law firm can help you establish a case and protect your rights.

Additional Resources:

Ex-Disney Employee Sue, Accusing Theme Park Company of Discrimination, Jan. 2, 2018, By Gabrielle Russon, Orlando Sentinel

More Blog Entries:

Disney Accused of Racial Discrimination of Security Guards, Aug. 6, 2015, Los Angeles Employment Discrimination Lawyer Blog