A long-standing battle over alleged workplace discrimination and harassment has taken a new turn with the filing of a federal lawsuit. Chris Burton, an employee at O'Hare International Airport, has accused his employer of racial and sex discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 26, 2025, against HMSHost.
Burton's legal action stems from years of alleged mistreatment by HMSHost, where he has been employed since April 2013. According to the complaint, Burton claims that his experiences at work have been marred by persistent racial discrimination as an African American male and sex discrimination since shortly after his employment began. The allegations include being subjected to derogatory language, unfair treatment compared to non-African American colleagues, and retaliatory actions following complaints about workplace conditions.
The plaintiff outlines a series of incidents that he believes exemplify discriminatory practices. These include being physically assaulted by coworkers without any intervention from management and receiving baseless write-ups that were later rescinded after union investigations. Burton alleges that management consistently ignored or dismissed his complaints while fostering a hostile work environment through intentional over-seating of customers and denying him fair rotation in job duties.
Burton has filed multiple charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) over the years, with each resulting in a Notice of Right to Sue. Despite these actions, he asserts that HMSHost has failed to address or rectify the issues raised. The lawsuit accuses HMSHost of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other statutes protecting employees from discrimination based on race and sex.
In addition to seeking relief for emotional distress caused by the alleged discriminatory practices, Burton is asking for punitive damages against HMSHost for breach of contract related to their non-harassment policies. He claims these policies were not enforced adequately, leading to ongoing emotional trauma.
The case highlights systemic issues within large organizations regarding how they handle complaints of discrimination and harassment. Burton’s lawsuit is part of a broader narrative about accountability in workplaces where minority employees often feel marginalized or retaliated against when voicing concerns.
Representing himself pro se due to challenges in securing legal representation, Burton continues his fight for justice within a system he feels has repeatedly failed him. His case is before Judge Elaine E. Buckio with Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes also involved in proceedings under Case ID 1:25-cv-02007.