When WeatherTech in Bolingbrook hired Wendell Brown in 2022, the Black man from Joliet hoped to build a successful career. Instead, Brown ended up suing WeatherTech after his termination more than a year later.
In a 20-page whistleblower lawsuit filed in June in the Circuit Court of Will County, Brown alleges he was subjected to racial slurs, marginalized by management, and forced to work unpaid overtime under unsafe conditions.
Brown claims that multiple employees called him the n-word, and when a co-worker allegedly used the slur nine times, management dismissed it as a “joke.” According to the lawsuit, the escalation of harassment occurred after he filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Brown’s attorney, Calvita Fredericks, is representing him in this matter.
The lawsuit accuses MacNeil Automotive Products Limited, which does business as WeatherTech, of retaliation and discrimination, claiming Brown was a diligent worker who maintained a clean record despite the alleged mistreatment. However, on August 7, 2023, after a year of raising concerns about racism and discrimination, Brown was terminated. On June 2, following the EEOC’s and Illinois Human Rights Commission’s findings, he filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the company.
WeatherTech manufactures products designed to protect vehicle interiors and exteriors. The company employs approximately 100 people, but the number of Black employees remains unclear. The Crusader reached out to WeatherTech for comment on the lawsuit but has not received a response. Brown began his tenure at WeatherTech in 2021 as a temporary employee in the grinding room. He was hired as a permanent employee assigned to routing on January 1, 2022. Over the following year, Brown worked in various positions across the company, where he claims he faced continuous racial slurs.
In one incident, a co-worker showed him an offensive meme featuring chicken wings on fish hooks with the caption, “Here N-word, N-word, N-word.” After Brown expressed his disapproval, the co-worker, identified as Chris, continued the mockery. Following a report to management, Brown filed a second complaint with the EEOC, leading to Chris’s termination, which management attributed to his use of the slur.
In contrast, another employee, Jose, allegedly called Brown the n-word nine times but faced no disciplinary action. Instead, both were called into a meeting where management viewed the slur as “a joke.” Brown asserted in his lawsuit that he never accepted such behavior and was dismayed by the trivialization of racial slurs.
Additionally, Brown alleges he was assaulted by another employee who struck him on the buttocks. Although Brown reported this to management and Human Resources, the employee was terminated for reasons unrelated to the assault. This incident also led Brown to file an EEOC charge.
In 2022, after obtaining his certification, Brown was promoted to the quality control department. He claims he was assigned tasks “beneath” his position. After complaining about racial slurs, he was reassigned to the grinding room, typically reserved for temporary employees, and often found himself working alone—a dangerous situation.
Brown alleges that he was forced to wear different clothing than non-Black employees and was assigned jobs that did not match his qualifications. He reported to Summit Balki, WeatherTech’s plant manager, who allegedly scrutinized his work unfairly, taking pictures of improperly packaged items and attributing the mistakes to Brown.
According to the lawsuit, Balki intentionally clocked Brown in late, despite his punctuality, to damage his reputation and set him up for termination. Brown complained to multiple levels of management, including HR, but says his concerns went unaddressed.
Brown also raised safety issues with HR, claiming WeatherTech failed to provide proper insulated gloves for handling materials heated to 500 degrees, resulting in burns among employees. He stated that many working conditions at WeatherTech not only posed safety risks but also violated OSHA regulations.
When WeatherTech needed a material handler, Brown accepted the role, believing it would come with increased pay. However, he never received the promised raise and was reportedly paid less than other employees with similar duties. He alleges he was also not compensated for overtime hours.
Throughout his employment, Brown stated he received no disciplinary action or warnings. Instead, he claims he faced harassment and was given unfavorable terms due to his race.
In his lawsuit against WeatherTech, Brown seeks $100,000 in punitive and compensatory damages. He is also requesting that court reinstate him to a position he would have held had it not been for the alleged discriminatory practices.