Ex-employee alleges denied promotions, retaliation, and firing after raising discrimination concerns
A former United Wholesale Mortgage employee claims he was denied promotions and fired after raising concerns about racial discrimination and protected leave.
Kerron Richardson, an African American man hired by United Wholesale Mortgage in the fall of 2021, alleges in a recently filed federal complaint that the company’s promotion and termination practices were tainted by racial bias and retaliation. Richardson, who joined the mortgage lender as an operations representative, says he brought several years of relevant mortgage experience to the job and started alongside a cohort of roughly 30 people in the same position.
According to the complaint, Richardson was told that incoming operations representatives needed to wait at least nine months before they could apply for promotions. But after two months of work, Richardson alleges, a much younger Chaldean operations representative, Jordan Najjar, who started with him, was promoted despite not having Richardson’s experience. Richardson and a white female colleague, Alex Oconly, complained together about Najjar’s promotion, claiming it was preferential treatment based on race. The complaint states that Oconly was allowed to apply for a promotion and received it, while Richardson was told he must wait the full nine months.
Richardson’s first opportunity for promotion was not until February 2023. The complaint states he had been working with management for months to ensure his performance was satisfactory and had taken on additional projects in anticipation of the opportunity. Despite being qualified and having the support of his supervisor, the position was given to a white man with less experience. Richardson claims he applied for other promotions but was never approved, and none of the people who got the jobs he applied for were African American men.
In March 2023, Richardson received a new manager. On March 20, 2023, Richardson emailed a career coach at United, Allan Roltsch, explicitly stating his perception that the promotion selection process was racially discriminatory. This email was forwarded to Roltsch’s supervisor, Brieana Segobiano. Richardson met with Segobiano, but the conversation was not productive. On April 3, 2023, Richardson sent Segobiano another email stating, “Can you find out more about this? I truly believe I was discriminated against, especially if I am correct with who received the position.” He was fired less than 24 hours later.
On April 3, 2023, Richardson’s supervisor sent him an email stating he was 56 hours (or seven 8-hour days) negative and that if he missed any more work, for any reason, he would be fired. Richardson had missed seven days of work in March because he was sick with COVID-19. The April 3 email was the first time Richardson had ever been disciplined or written up for attendance. After receiving the email, Richardson told his supervisor he believed the action was in retaliation for his complaints of discrimination. The next day, Richardson’s son had a medical emergency, and Richardson called off work. Defendant fired Richardson that day, stating the reason was excessive time off.
The complaint alleges violations of the Family Medical Leave Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, including interference with protected leave, retaliation, and racial discrimination in promotions and termination. The complaint seeks damages for economic injury, emotional distress, and other harms, as well as injunctive relief requiring United Wholesale Mortgage to implement corrective measures such as mandatory training and an effective complaint process for harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
No specific policy clauses from United Wholesale Mortgage’s employee handbook or internal policies are cited in the complaint, but the allegations focus on the company’s stated promotion eligibility timeline and its handling of protected leave.
It is important to note that these are allegations, and United Wholesale Mortgage has not yet responded to the claims in court. The case remains ongoing.
