A former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging severe discrimination and retaliation. Norecia Williams filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on September 3, 2024, against Safer Foundation.
According to the court documents, Williams claims that during her employment at Safer Foundation, she faced race and disability discrimination, a hostile work environment, and retaliation. The plaintiff asserts that she was treated unfavorably from her first day of work on May 8, 2023. She was reportedly the only African American female in her unit and alleges that other African American females previously employed by the defendant were also mistreated. Williams's supervisor, Victor Rodriguez, allegedly dismissed her concerns about racial discrimination and denied her requests for reasonable accommodations related to her disabilities—PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Williams recounts multiple instances where she felt isolated and devalued by colleagues who made derogatory comments about her mental health and race. On July 28, 2023, she requested accommodations to work from home due to the abusive environment exacerbating her mental health issues. Her request was denied on the grounds that she was still within a probationary period. Following this denial, Williams alleges that Rodriguez disclosed her medical conditions to other staff members, leading to further harassment.
The complaint details an incident on August 1, 2023, during a mental health training session where negative comments were made about African Americans. The following day, Williams attempted to report the hostile work environment but was rebuffed by Rodriguez. This culminated in what Williams describes as a constructive discharge on August 2, 2023—she felt forced to leave due to unbearable working conditions.
Williams is seeking various forms of relief from the court: back pay with interest for lost wages and benefits; compensatory and punitive damages; coverage of legal costs; and any additional relief deemed appropriate by the court. She contends that Safer Foundation violated several laws including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §2000e), the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. §12101), the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/2-102), and Section 1981 of Title 42 of the United States Code.
Representing Williams is attorney Steven D Horak from Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The case has been assigned Case No.: 1:24-cv-07992 in front of judges yet to be named.