For one that prides itself in its progressive nature, it is no hidden secret that the solar industry has a diversity issue. Reports of blatant racism and sexism reinforce the lack of diversity in employment statistics.
Again today, the issue of racism is at the forefront of the industry, as six former employees of Momentum Solar have filed a lawsuit against the company, as well as employees Jessica Adams, Adam Murawski and Rajan Silberman arguing “management at the Company’s New York-based warehouse fostered a work environment permeated with vile racism.”
To call the allegations made by the defendants disturbing is an understatement. The plaintiffs allege that defendants Murawski and Silberman repeatedly called black employees the n-word, mocked the accents of Jamaican employees, implied that black people are universally poorer than whites and alluded to the three-fifths compromise when talking about groups that included white and black employees.
On top of the verbal abuse and discrimination, the plaintiffs allege that Momentum pays its Black employees far less than similar-level white employees, gave the less desirable jobs/assignments within the warehouse nearly exclusively to black employees, ostracized these employees and gave them no opportunities for career advancement.
Moreover, the defendants allege that complaints to management only furthered the hostility. According to plaintiff Garreth Murrell, his complaint brought up to Adams against Murawski was met with a meeting. At said meeting, which was recorded, Murawski admitted to using the “n-word” on multiple occasions, an admission that was met without reprimand.
Murrell alleges that after the meeting, he was met with even more intense racism. When he again went to Adams, he asked her:
So, Jess, you’re telling me I’m supposed to be comfortable, right. With you being comfortable with a foreman here calling black people n*****s, and that’s comfortable for you. It’s not comfortable for me.
Murrell was fired not long after making this second complaint.
In response, Momentum Solar has denied the allegations as being baseless in both law and fact. the company claims that all six employees were terminated legitimately, with allegations of fighting, poor performance and unacceptable workplace behavior, among others.
The New York warehouse where the defendants employed has a workforce of 40, with just 2 of those 40 people being black.
If this story sounds all too familiar, that’s because it is. Less than one year ago, Vivint Solar was sued by former employees over similar allegations, including subjugation to racial slurs including the n-word and the building of a “whites only” fort by management in the workplace.
And, when you consider the results of the U.S. Solar Industry Diversity Study, released nearly simultaneously with the announcement of this lawsuit, and the fact that African-Americans make up less than 8% of the solar industry workforce and nearly zero of its executives, it’s clear that the solar industry has a long way to go.
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Yes, Racism is well and alive in the Solar industry. As an African American women in the solar industry since 2015. I have faced Confederate flags at a site survey. Completed a solar take down as part of a roof job. On the re-install the client’s wife felt uncomfortable with my staff.
Surely, African Americans in 2019 can expect a job environment that’s professional and fair. Continuously, we are met with the fact that the color of our skins can make a difference in the job and pay. A solutions; recreate Black Wall Street, find and do business with companies and people that aren’t racist. Place value with whom you spend your money. African American spend Billions each year with companies that don’t respect or honor diversity. The promise of diversity with not be realized without steadfast convictions to fight the wrongs in courts, board rooms and with our money. The past has taught the lesson, we must stay committed to change for the next generation.
That sucks that you have had to deal with that. When I was younger I had hoped that we as a society would be past this junk, but it seems to have gotten worse these last 2.5 years emboldened by he who shall not be named. I know my teenage daughter has friends from pretty much every race and to her they are just friends without any labels so I guess there might be hope for the future. In the here and now we need to do as you suggest – stop doing business with companies that foster these kinds of environments.
I work in the solar industry specifically at momentum Solar. While I dispare the mentioned behavior I cannot agree in the generalization of the company’s behavior as racist. I am Hispanic myself and I can appreciate the diversity of people around me in the workplace. I am paid and treated the same way as all my colleagues. Having said that, although it should never happen, I hope the claims on this report are just a result of an isolated situation. If the claimed actions are proven true, I that corrective and punitive actions take place immediately against the offenders. If so, I am sadden by the ignorance and immature behaviors of the few that clouds the openness, fairness, respectful and joyful will of the rest of the company and it’s leadership.
I work in the solar industry specifically at momentum Solar. while I dispare the mentioned behavior I cannot agree in the generalization of the company’s behavior as racist. I am Hispanic myself and I can appreciate the diversity of people around me in the workplace. I am paid and treated the same way as all my colleagues. Having said that, although it should never happen, I hope the claims on this report, if proven true, to be just a result of an isolated situation, and certainly would expect corrective actions to take place to eliminate reoccurrence. I am sadden by the ignorance and immature behavior by the few that clouds the openness to diversity, fairness, respectful and joyful will of the rest of the company and it’s mindful leadership.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. To be clear, we are not characterizing this company as racist – we are covering legal allegations of racist behavior. Whether these allegations are true or not is up to the courts to decide.
I have a family member working in the Florida , Hiatus office who is being treated unfairly, they have him doing doing certain jobs that he is not being paid for, when he discussed the issues with them, they have told him that he could be suspended, although when he was hired for the warehouse, now all the sudden they want him to drive long distance driving trucks making 13$ an hour, yes he is black . I call it abusive and discrimination, because poor man needs a job so bad he is afraid of saying anythin
This is so terrible. I will not use this company for my solar installation.