YWCA McLean County fined $35,000 for discrimination

Posted on January 20, 2015

YWCA McLean County has been ordered to pay $35,000 in fines after discriminating against a black employee they fired in Nov. 2012. (Photo courtesy YWCA)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – The YWCA McLean County will pay around $35,000 in fines after the Bloomington Human Rights Commission ruled they discriminated against a black employee when they fired him in Nov. 2012.

Attorneys for Eric Tapley said the YWCA fired Tapley for inappropriate conduct between Tapley and a female co-worker, but they didn't talk to Tapley prior to his dismissal. The Bloomington Human Relations Commission ruled the YWCA denied Tapley due process and ordered the group to pay Tapley $17,328.29 in lost wages and $15,000 in compensatory damages, along with various other costs and attorney fees. The commission has also ordered the YWCA to pay the City of Bloomington 25-hundred dollars and to hire an ombudsman to oversee employee management procedures.

The YWCA released a statement to WJBC, saying they "respectfully disagree with the ruling and are exploring our options" regarding further action.

YWCA President D. Dontae Latson is on the Bloomington Human Rights Commission, but recused himself from this case. Christy Germanis, director of marketing and public relations at the YWCA, said Latson was not president when Tapley's employment was terminated.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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