LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carney R. Shegerian, founder of Shegerian & Associates, a Santa Monica-based law firm specializing in employee rights, has issued a statement aimed at all employees and employers in light of current news coverage surrounding a US Government Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) probe of Wet Seal’s firing of an African American store manager. Shegerian warns that discrimination and racially biased work termination should lead to litigious scenarios potentially devastating to the employer.
It was announced last week that the EEOC had concluded its investigation and found that retail chain Wet Seal discriminated against the manager due to racial bias. The government probe determined that Nicole Cogdell, a former manager of a Wet Seal store, was “subjected to a hostile work environment because of her race.” The three-year investigation also uncovered evidence that Wet Seal corporate managers openly stated that to be profitable, the retailer had to retain workers with “the Armani look” meaning thin, blond and blue-eyed.
“It’s may seem hard to believe in this day and age, but racial discrimination in the workplace is still a common problem nationwide,” said Shegerian. “Any discrimination of a person in his or her place of work due to race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability is of course illegal. And for a store manager to actually fire someone because of race is particularly heinous. When employers turn a blind eye to discrimination laws, we are here to protect the employee’s rights. We applaud the EEOC’s investigation and hope in earnest for justice for this unjustly terminated employee. Hopefully this news will put employers in the US on notice that they may never discriminate against their employees for any reason.”
An experienced trial attorney, Shegerian has tried many jury trials to verdict in both state and federal court, representing individuals that have suffered financial or emotional losses and have been wronged by employers, including major corporations. Shegerian has built a remarkable career on helping those who have been wronged in the workplace. He remains undefeated in federal jury trials and has won over 60 jury trials, including 23 seven figure verdicts representing employees.
Located Santa Monica, Shegerian & Associates is a law firm specializing in protecting the rights of employees who have been wronged by their employers. Richly experienced in labor and employment law and possessing an unparalleled success record as litigators (Carney Shegerian himself has won over 60 jury trials in his career, including 23 seven figure verdicts, and he remains undefeated in federal jury trials), Shegerian & Associates is passionately dedicated to serving the needs of its clients. For more information, visit www.ShegerianLaw.com.