In the DE PIERO v. Pennsylvania State University, Dist. Court, ED Pennsylvania 2024 – Google Scholar, De Piero, a former writing professor at Penn State, sued the university for alleged racial discrimination, creation of a hostile work environment, retaliation for protected speech, and violation of state human relations laws. He claimed that race-based policies and training sessions at the university were discriminatory against him as a white individual, affecting his grading practices, performance evaluations, and leading to what he perceived as forced resignation.
The court found some of De Piero’s claims, particularly regarding a hostile work environment, plausible enough to proceed, while dismissing others, emphasizing the nuanced balance between addressing racism and avoiding discriminatory practices against any group.
The complaints included:
- Mandatory diversity training sessions that he felt singled him out as a white male.
- Evaluations and feedback on his work that he believed were unfairly critical, attributing this to his race rather than his performance.
- Interactions with colleagues and superiors made him feel marginalized and unsupported, again linking this treatment to his race.
These instances contributed to his feeling of a hostile work environment, leading to his decision to resign and subsequently file the lawsuit.
For HR professionals, this case underscores the importance of:
- Implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives carefully to ensure they do not inadvertently create a perception of reverse discrimination.
- Providing clear guidelines on how to incorporate diversity into educational and evaluative practices without compromising objectivity or fairness.
- Ensuring that all employees feel heard and that their concerns are addressed fairly and transparently.
- Documenting complaints, investigations, and outcomes thoroughly to provide a clear record in case of disputes.
- Training on the legal implications of diversity policies and practices to prevent potential lawsuits.
De Piero’s case against Penn State serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of balanced, thoughtful approaches to diversity and inclusion efforts in academia and beyond.
