Opinion ID: 6323363
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ragland

Text: In 2016, Tube Processing hired Gerald Ragland, a Black man, through a temporary staﬃng agency. Eight months later, Ragland was hired directly as a permanent employee. In 2018, Ragland worked ﬁrst shift as a machine operator in the end forming and bending department. During his employment at Tube Processing, Ragland felt he was exposed to a racist work environment for several reasons. Ragland believed that white employees were treated better than Black employees. He stated that some employees referred to themselves as the “Good Old Boys Gang,” but that he could not “pinpoint exactly if they w[ere] being raci[st] towards [him].” Ragland, however, never complained to management or human resources about these issues. No. 21-1853 7 Ragland also believed that Black employees were required to do harder jobs than white employees. He often complained about this to others. For instance, he complained to Combs that Odom was doing easier jobs than him. He also complained to Combs, Lang, and Young about getting diﬃcult jobs, and proactively asked for a new position in the event another employee ever retired. However, even though Tube Processing used a bid system to apply for new positions, he could not identify what position he wished to place a bid for, nor could he identify any employee that got a new position outside of the bidding process. Moreover, Ragland was displeased with the rate at which he moved from temporary employee to permanent employee. He claimed that white employees got hired as permanent employees more quickly than he did. But he could not provide the names of any such employees or any other details pertaining to his claim. Ragland also perceived that he was mistreated during certain interactions with other Tube Processing employees because of his race. On several occasions, Combs approached Ragland to ask him if he was wearing headphones, because employees had reported seeing Ragland with headphones under the hood of his sweatshirt. According to company policy, employees were not allowed to have headphones. Combs often found Ragland with headphones and informally reprimanded him for having them. Indeed, Combs caught numerous white and Black employees wearing headphones and informally reprimanded them. Combs also reprimanded Ragland for wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Tube Processing prohibits employees from wearing hooded sweatshirts. Since he was the only employee who 8 No. 21-1853 wore one every day, he believed Tube Processing’s prohibition on them was because of him. On a separate occasion, Ragland claimed that Combs accused him of stealing. But Ragland could not point to any evidence suggesting that the accusation was based on race. Ragland likewise had interactions with Benash that he viewed as hostile. On one occasion, Ragland and Benash had a confrontation. Ragland reported the incident to Young and Lang. Ragland, however, was ultimately written up for making threats to Benash to handle the issue outside of work. Ragland also thought that employees were racist for wearing confederate ﬂag and “Make America Great Again” apparel. In October of 2018, management identiﬁed one employee who wore a President Trump shirt in the bending department. That employee was asked not to wear the shirt again. Management also discussed the atmosphere that was created by diﬀerent employees wearing confederate ﬂag and political attire, noting that this type of attire was creating animosity among several employees. In response, Gerth stated that she would talk to Young about coming up with a plan to address these issues. During his time at Tube Processing, Ragland received various verbal warnings and disciplinary write-ups, for reasons such as: using an electronic vapor cigarette, using inappropriate language with coworkers, violating the attendance policy, not properly following directions for work-related tasks, using his cell phone on company time, engaging in horseplay, and threatening a coworker. On November 21, 2018, Ragland submitted a resignation letter indicating that his last day of work would be December No. 21-1853 9 1, 2018. But on November 29, 2018, Tube Processing decided to end Ragland’s employment and directed him to leave. On his way to clear out his toolbox, Ragland got into a verbal altercation with another Black employee.