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Black former NYC Sweetgreen employees sue, alleging racial discrimination
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Sep 15, 2023
Modified Sep 15, 2023
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Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Sep 15, 2023
Modified Sep 15, 2023
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Ten Black former Sweetgreen employees are suing the company, alleging racial and gender discrimination at multiple locations in New York City.
The lawsuit names the fast-casual salad chain and two store managers: Donald Izquierdo at the 55th Street and Park Avenue location in Midtown; and Edwin Ventura, who worked at the 67 Wall St. location in the Financial District from 2019 to 2021.
It alleges that the company and managers created a “discriminatory and hostile work environment.” Izquierdo, Ventura and other managers repeatedly failed to address complaints of other employees making “derogatory” remarks against Black employees and "inappropriate sexual comments" directed at female employees and customers, the lawsuit says.
Employees say they were subjected to regular use of the “N-word.” At the 32 Gansevoort St. location in the Meatpacking District, plaintiff Oscar Rivera’s coworkers would regularly refer to Black coworkers as “monkeys,” the lawsuit says.
The complaint alleges that Izquierdo also made “sexually inappropriate and suggestive” comments about female customers on a daily basis. It also says he took no action against an employee who made sexual comments about one of the plaintiffs.
The complaint also alleges that the plaintiffs were passed over for extra work hours and promotions on the basis of their race.
Company spokesperson Rebecca Nounou said Sweetgreen was committed to a diverse, safe and inclusive workplace.
“We take these accusations seriously and do not tolerate any form of harassment, discrimination or unsafe working conditions,” she said.
But she said the company couldn’t comment further on a pending legal matter.
The plaintiffs’ attorney Avi Mermelstein filed a similar racial discrimination lawsuit against international fast-casual chain Pret A Manger earlier this year. Mermelstein, with the law firm Arenson, Dittmar & Karban, said the latest lawsuit against Sweetgreen comes amid what appears to be a “pervasive” pattern in the industry, wherein Black employees are excluded from a “clique” of managers and other workers who look down on them and treat them differently because of their race.
“Anybody can be committed to diversity on paper,” Mermelstein said. “The challenge is making sure that store-level managers are actually implementing that policy.”
He said many companies aren’t up for the challenge, “and I believe that Sweetgreen is one of them.”
This story has been updated to correct a reference to one of the defendants named in the lawsuit, and to add comment from the plaintiffs' attorney, Avi Mermelstein.
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Race And Justice Unit
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Arya Sundaram
Arya is a reporter covering race and justice. Got a tip? Email: [email protected] or reach Arya on Signal at 512-650-8767.
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