Lafontaine Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Inc., a Highland, Mich.-based automobile dealership, will pay $75,000 to settle a racial harassment lawsuit filed by the EEOC.  The EEOC had charged that Lafontaine unlawfully subjected a black employee to a racially hostile work environment.

In its lawsuit filed in 2014, the EEOC said that William Tyler, a detailer for the dealership, was subjected to a racially hostile work environment by his supervisor and co-workers, including use of the N-word and other racial slurs and jokes. 

The approval of the consent decree brings a formal end to the litigation between the EEOC and Lafontaine.  In addition to paying $75,000 to Tyler, the decree requires the company to provide ongoing anti-discrimination training to all of the company's officers, managers, supervisors and human resources personnel; create a new anti-discrimination policy; institute new procedures for handling discrimination complaints; and file reports with the EEOC regarding compliance with the decree's requirements. 

"The right of an employee to be free from harassment based on race or color is central to ensuring equal employment opportunity," said the EEOC Attorney.