Rhonda Ferguson, a former employee of a healthcare provider, has filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and retaliation in her workplace. The complaint was filed on December 31, 2024, by Ferguson against Humboldt Park Health d/b/a Humboldt Health Care in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Ferguson, an African American woman who served as Director for Supply Chain from June 2023 until her termination in August 2024, claims she faced discriminatory practices based on her race. She asserts that she was subjected to different employment terms than non-African American colleagues and endured a hostile work environment. Ferguson alleges that throughout her tenure, there were remarks about removing "the Blacks" from the organization and that she was underpaid compared to peers. Her complaint highlights a systemic issue within the company, pointing out incidents such as being warned by a Hispanic director about racial bias and witnessing similar discrimination against an HR representative who was also African American.
Despite her qualifications and performance exceeding expectations, Ferguson states she was overlooked for permanent promotion to director in favor of less experienced Caucasian candidates who received higher salaries. Her complaints to Human Resources about these issues were allegedly ignored, leading to no investigation or corrective measures being taken. This lack of action culminated in what Ferguson describes as an unlawful termination under the pretext of financial constraints at the hospital.
The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief including back pay with interest, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys' fees, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. Ferguson is determined to hold Humboldt Park Health accountable for what she perceives as clear violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1981 regarding race-based discrimination and retaliation.
Representing Rhonda Ferguson is attorney Peyton M. Paschke from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while details regarding legal representation for Humboldt Park Health are not provided in this document. The case is identified as Case No. 1:24-cv-13389.