California accuses Cisco of job discrimination based on Indian employee's caste

[Boiler 43,401]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cisco-lawsuit/california-accuses-cisco-of-job-discrimination-based-on-indian-employees-caste-idUSKBN2423YE

 

OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - California regulators sued Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O) on Tuesday, accusing it of discriminating against an Indian-American employee and allowing him to be harassed by two managers because he was from a lower Indian caste than them

U.S. employment law does not specifically bar caste-based discrimination, but California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing contends in the lawsuit that the Hindu faith’s lingering caste system is based on protected classes such as religion.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Jose, does not name the alleged victim. It states he has been a principal engineer at Cisco’s San Jose headquarters since October 2015 and that he was born at the bottom of caste hierarchy as a Dalit, once called “untouchables.”

Like other large Silicon Valley employers, Cisco’s workforce includes thousands of Indian immigrants, most of whom were born Brahmins or other high castes.

Former Cisco engineering managers Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella also are defendants in the lawsuit, which accuses them of harassment for internally enforcing the caste hierarchy.

 

Cisco spokeswoman Robyn Blum said the network gear maker followed its process to investigate employee concerns in this case and would “vigorously defend itself” against the lawsuit.

“Cisco is committed to an inclusive workplace for all,” she said. “We were fully in compliance with all laws as well as our own policies.”

Iyer and Kompella did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It was not immediately known if the two have retained attorneys.

The civil rights group Equality Labs in a 2018 report cited in the lawsuit found that 67% of Dalits surveyed felt treated unfairly at their U.S. workplaces.

At Cisco, the unnamed employee reported Iyer to human resources in November 2016 for outing him as a Dalit to colleagues. Iyer allegedly retaliated, but Cisco determined caste discrimination was not illegal and issues continued through 2018, the lawsuit states.

 

Cisco reassigned and isolated the employee, rejected a raise and opportunities that would have led to one and denied two promotions, according to the lawsuit.

Hindus traditionally grouped people into four major castes based on ancestry, and Dalits in India still struggle with access to education and jobs 65 years after India banned caste-based discrimination.

[TBoneTX 43,022]

The two decided to, uh, caste aspersions.

A reasonable question is, couldn't they have left that stuff in India?

[laylalex 7,245]

On 7/4/2020 at 7:18 AM, TBoneTX said:

The two decided to, uh, caste aspersions.

A reasonable question is, couldn't they have left that stuff in India?

The problem is that people bring all sorts of baggage with them when they move abroad, and some of it doesn't have to pass through a customs inspection.

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,315]

In dealing with this same cultural baggage when conducting business dealings is maddening. Most of my associates run from it. The hassles arent worth the reward.

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

Harassment is harassment, even if its about something as dumb as a "caste" and it looks to me like the further discrimination this person suffered is easily actionable. Cisco clearly needs a wake-up call.

Edited July 5, 2020 by Burnt Reynolds

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,315]

Wifey comes in all upset today. Some Jerk at work was asking her to demo the little sit down and shop motorized buggy thing. Seems the one he was on would not work. She told him she really did not know how to work them. "Keep in mind she is a tiny little Asian woman, who is always in the Yes sir super Filipina  super nice almost subsevent mode at work. Not so much at home, but I digress". However she sat down on one and started trying to figure it out. She said he got irate and started screaming at her and then slapped her hand away from one of the controls.  She left and went and told the manager, who said he would look at that tape and take action but she said she didnt want any trouble and came home. I am not sure what happened after that, to be fair to the manager. I would have introduced that suma*** (Sheriff Buford T. Justice) to Jesus right then and there.

 

She just told me 5 hours later that he was black, so she was really hesitant for that reason, because she was scared he would scream racism and get her in trouble. I guess it's come to that in America even for a person of color that has only been her 9 years. I guess if I had beat him half to death right there in the Lobby, that's the only part the media would replay and rioters would be at my door. 

 

Nothing I can really do, because I think the husband flying into his spouses workplace acting like an off the chain redneck is counter productive. I am going to wait and see what happens tomorrow. Not sure what the company can do or how she really explained it.

 

 

 

[TBoneTX 43,022]

4 hours ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

husband flying into his spouses workplace acting like an off the chain redneck

Otherwise known as acting like a red-blooded American male with a spine.

10 hours ago, laylalex said:

a customs inspection

At least in this thread, we're inspecting their customs and finding them wanting.

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,315]

7 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Otherwise known as acting like a red-blooded American male with a spine.

At least in this thread, we're inspecting their customs and finding them wanting.

Yup