Tesla to Compensate Black Employee with 1.2 Billion Won for Alleged Racial Discrimination

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Tesla has paid more than $1 million (approximately 1.15 billion KRW) in compensation to a former employee who claimed to have experienced racial discrimination while working at the factory.

Bloomberg reported on the 5th (local time) that arbitrator Elaine Rushing made this decision in May regarding the racial discrimination claim filed by Melvin Berry, a Black worker at Tesla's Northern California factory, and that Tesla has paid the compensation to the victim.

Berry claimed that he was called the racial slur "kkamdungi" (a derogatory term for Black people) more than 100 times by his supervisors at the factory, and when he confronted them, his working hours were extended and he was assigned heavy loads.

The arbitrator pointed out that Tesla, as the company, is responsible because Berry's supervisors committed this harassment.

Unlike court trials, arbitration limits evidence collection, making it difficult to prove illegal acts, so Bloomberg noted that such a large compensation award is a rare case.

Bloomberg explained that this arbitration decision became public through a petition filed by the victim's attorney to the court to enforce the arbitration ruling.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.