PUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
COMMISSION,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 10-1156
XERXES CORPORATION,
Defendant-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Maryland, at Baltimore.
Catherine C. Blake, District Judge.
(1:08-cv-01882-CCB)
Argued: December 9, 2010
Decided: April 26, 2011
Before TRAXLER, Chief Judge, and
WILKINSON and MOTZ, Circuit Judges.
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded by published
opinion. Chief Judge Traxler wrote the opinion, in which
Judge Wilkinson and Judge Motz joined. Judge Wilkinson
and Judge Motz each wrote a separate concurring opinion.
COUNSEL
ARGUED: Elizabeth Ellen Theran, EQUAL EMPLOY-
MENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, Washington, D.C.,
2 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
for Appellant. Robert C. Castle, OPPENHEIMER WOLFF &
DONNELLY LLP, Minneapolis, Minnesota, for Appellee.
ON BRIEF: P. David Lopez, General Counsel, Carolyn L.
Wheeler, Acting Associate General Counsel, Lorraine C.
Davis, Assistant General Counsel, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, Washington, D.C., for
Appellant. Aaron Mills Scott, OPPENHEIMER WOLFF &
DONNELLY LLP, Minneapolis, Minnesota, for Appellee.
OPINION
TRAXLER, Chief Judge:
This appeal arises from an action brought by the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") on behalf
of Albert Bernard Pearson, Keith Wilson, and Gradian Gra-
ham, present or former African-American employees of Xer-
xes Corporation ("Xerxes"), alleging a hostile work
environment on the basis of race, in violation of Title VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2 ("Title
VII"). The district court granted summary judgment for Xer-
xes. We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.
I.
A.
Xerxes is a fiberglass tank manufacturer based in Minneap-
olis, Minnesota. Pearson, Wilson, and Graham worked as
assemblers at Xerxes’ plant in Williamsport, Maryland. Bob
Shifflett was their shift supervisor. He reported to plant super-
intendent Greg Carty, who reported to plant manager Wayne
Green.
At all times, Xerxes had in place a comprehensive Corpo-
rate Compliance Program and Program Guide, prohibiting
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 3
discrimination and harassment in the plant. Plant employees
were instructed to report any violations to their "supervisor,
Plant Manager, . . . or a member of Xerxes’ Compliance
Committee." J.A. 487, 493. In addition, as of at least January
9, 2006, Xerxes also had in place a separate anti-harassment
policy, which prohibited "Sexual, Racial and Other Objection-
able Conduct or Unlawful Harassment." J.A. 480. The policy
provided specific examples of prohibited conduct and, among
other directions, instructed plant employees to "Immediately
Report The Incident To Your Supervisor And Plant Manager."
J.A. 481. All employees received copies of Xerxes’ anti-
harassment policies and were trained in them at the time of
hire. Refresher training was conducted annually.
Xerxes and its nonsupervisory employees were also subject
to a Collective Bargaining Agreement (the "CBA") between
Xerxes and the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricul-
tural Implement Workers of America, Local No. 171 (the
"Union"). The CBA prohibited "unlawful discrimination
against employees on account of race, color, creed, national
origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital
status, age, disability, or Union affiliation, or any other legally
protected class status." J.A. 501. The CBA also protected
Union employees from being "disciplined or discharged with-
out just cause." J.A. 498. The CBA contained a grievance pro-
cedure for alleged violations, and Union representatives were
regularly available to meet with employees about any con-
cerns. The Union president testified that Xerxes took "a
strong stance against discrimination," J.A. 307, and "seem[ed]
to respond very quickly whenever there [were] allegations" of
discrimination. J.A. 308.
B.
Bernard Pearson was hired by Xerxes to work at the plant
on a temporary basis in April 2005 and as a full-time
employee in June 2005. He testified that from June 2005 until
February 2006, his coworkers subjected him to repeated racial
4 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
slurs and pranks in the plant. He testified that Amber Gatrell
used the word "n*****" in his presence on repeated occasions
and referred to him as "Boy." He testified that Floyd Myers
called him "Boy" and "black Polack," and called a white
woman a "n***** lover." He also testified that unknown
coworkers occasionally played pranks on him, such as turning
the lights off in the bathroom and throwing wet paper towels
at him, placing gel on the doorknob in the bathroom so that
he could not open the door, tampering with his toolbox lock,
and hiding his toolbox. Pearson testified that he reported these
incidents to Shifflett as they occurred, but that Shifflett did
nothing until February 2006. He did not complain to any other
members of management.
Keith Wilson was hired by Xerxes as a temporary
employee in October 2005 and as a full-time employee in
December 2005. He alleges that he was first subjected to
racial harassment by his coworkers in November 2005. He
testified that on two or three occasions someone stole or threw
away his and Pearson’s lunches. He also complained that
Tammy Smith called him by racially-tinged names, including
"Buckwheat," "Benson," and "Yellow Boy."1 Wilson testified
that he reported the incidents to Shifflett as they occurred, but
did not complain to any other management employee because
the Union representative told him he had to report them to his
direct supervisor first.
On February 3, 2006, however, two related incidents
involving Gatrell and Myers were reported to Shifflett and to
Green. Wilson testified that while he was working with
Gatrell, she said to him, "Boy you don’t lay up no manway
like that." J.A. 353. Wilson reported the incident to Shifflett
and told Shifflett that "where I come from . . . boy is another
1
Buckwheat and Benson are African-American characters in the televi-
sion series "Little Rascals" and "Benson," respectively. We assume "Yel-
low Boy" is a reference to a mixed-race individual.
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 5
name for the N word." J.A. 353. Shifflett memorialized the
complaint and his response in writing, as follows:
[Gatrell] and [Wilson] were working [together and]
it was at the end of the shift. [Wilson] started to take
the dumpster up to dump it. [Gatrell] said to [Wil-
son] hey boy you can’t dump the dumpster yet
because its not 9:30 p.m. Later [Wilson] and [Pear-
son] came to me and said that they were tired of peo-
ple saying boy to them and other racial slurs. I told
[Wilson] and [Pearson] that no they don’t have to
listen to this and that it would be dealt with right
away. I went to [Gatrell] and told her that I think the
best thing to do is go to [Wilson] and say to him that
if he took [o]ffense about her saying boy to him that
she was sorry. The next day [Gatrell] talked to [Wil-
son] and [Pearson] in the parking lot and told [Wil-
son] just what I said to.
J.A. 641. Gatrell admitted using the term "boy," but claimed
that she did not intend it to be racially offensive. Later that
same evening, Myers exchanged words with Pearson and Wil-
son in the lunchroom and "said something like, yeah, Boy,
well I’ll see you outside." J.A. 354. Myers also admitted using
the term "boy" during the exchange, but claimed that he did
not intend it to be racially offensive. After Green met with
Myers about the incident, Myers apologized to Pearson and
Wilson. Green also held a meeting with the shift employees
to review Xerxes’ anti-harassment policies. Green reminded
the employees that racial harassment, including race-based
comments, was prohibited and warned that future misconduct
would result in disciplinary action.
After February 2006, Wilson reported no further incidents
of racial harassment until June 2007.2 In May 2006, however,
2
Although Wilson testified that "[i]t seemed like [it] just got worse[ ]"
after the February 2006 meeting, J.A. 356, there is no evidence of any
additional incidents or reports of racial harassment involving Wilson until
June 2007.
6 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
Pearson complained to Shifflett that two different coworkers
had referred to music being played in the plant as "jungle
music" and "n***** music." Shifflett told Pearson that he
should report the incidents to Carty. Carty, in turn, met with
Pearson and the Union representative. At the meeting, Pear-
son also told Carty about the problems he had experienced
with Gatrell and Myers, and told Carty that he "wanted it to
stop." J.A. 548. Carty told Pearson not to say anything to any-
one and that he would take care of it.
When Green learned of Pearson’s complaint, he notified
Xerxes’ corporate office and Ronald Bachmeier, the EEO
coordinator, traveled to the plant to investigate.3 According to
Bachmeier:
While at the plant, I conducted a comprehensive
investigation into Mr. Pearson’s allegations. I inter-
viewed Mr. Pearson as well as more than 15 other
employees. Interviewees either denied Mr. Pearson’s
allegations, explained that Mr. Pearson had taken
their remarks out of context, indicated that they did
not mean their remarks to be racially offensive, or
had since apologized for those remarks, and
explained that Mr. Pearson had himself engaged in
interaction with other employees using profanity and
the racially offensive term "N_____." Neither Mr.
Pearson nor any other employee attributed any
racially offensive remarks to any Xerxes supervisor.
Moreover, although Mr. Pearson contended that he
had spoken with certain Xerxes supervisors regard-
ing his concerns, those supervisors credibly disputed
3
By this time, Pearson had also filed the Maryland Commission on
Human Relations (MCHR) charge, which is dated June 15, 2006. There
is no evidence in the record on appeal as to when Xerxes became aware
of the charge, nor are the exact dates of the other events during this time
period clear. The best that can be determined is that Pearson complained
to Shifflett and Carty sometime in May and that Green requested assis-
tance from the corporate office in late June.
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 7
Mr. Pearson’s contention that he spoke to them or
Mr. Pearson’s version of their communications.
J.A. 474-75.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the following actions
were taken by Xerxes. Myers and Gatrell were each issued
two-day unpaid suspensions from work and required to attend
refresher training in the anti-harassment policies. They were
also "placed on a final warning" that Xerxes "w[ould] termi-
nate [their] employment if [it was] ever determine[d] that
[they] engaged, directly or indirectly, in hostile, offensive, or
otherwise unlawful conduct toward any Xerxes employee."
J.A. 646. They were also instructed as follows:
You are under no circumstances to have any hostile,
offensive, or otherwise unlawful interaction with
[Pearson]. You shall not make any racially hostile,
offensive, or intimidating remarks, gestures, or
engage in any conduct, of any type, which is racially
offensive. This prohibition applies to our entire
Plant, including Plant production areas, break areas,
lunchroom, restrooms, and parking lot.
J.A. 646.
Bachmeier determined that coworker Brian Bradley "had
referred to certain music as ‘jungle music,’" but that he "had
not made the remark with intent to disparage any employee’s
race," and had apologized to Pearson and another employee.
J.A. 476. Bradley was issued a "Written Disciplinary Warn-
ing" and also required to attend refresher training. J.A. 477.
He was warned not to "engage in prohibited discrimination,
harassment, or objectionable conduct" to any employee or
"make any racially hostile, offensive, or intimidating remarks,
gestures, or engage in any conduct, of any type, which is
racially offensive." J.A. 650-51. He was also warned that
future misconduct would "subject[ ] [him] to further disci-
8 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
pline, up to and including the termination of [his] employ-
ment." J.A. 651.
During his investigation of Pearson’s complaint, Bachmeier
also learned that coworker Tammy Smith "had used the term
‘Buckwheat,’ in the context of a conversation with another
African-American employee," but determined that her use of
the name was related to a television show and that she had
"credibly denied that she intended the remark to be in any
way racially derogatory." J.A. 477. "In light of the nature of
her remark, her explanation, and her credibility regarding the
use and context in which she made the remark," Smith was
provided a "verbal counseling remind[ing] [her] of her obliga-
tion to comply with Xerxes . . . policies," and required to
attend refresher training. J.A. 477. Smith was also warned that
violations of the harassment policies would result in appropri-
ate disciplinary action in the future.4
Finally, Bachmeier conducted refresher training of all
employees regarding Xerxes’ EEO and anti-harassment poli-
cies. This included a review of employees’ "options for
reporting incidents to Xerxes’ EEO Coordinator or Corporate
Compliance Committee to facilitate a response by the com-
pany." J.A. 478. In a separate session, Bachmeier retrained
the supervisory personnel as well, including "their responsi-
bilities with respect to the promotion of a work environment
in which all employees are treated lawfully, with dignity and
respect." J.A. 477. Pearson was provided a memorandum
summarizing Xerxes’ investigation and response to his com-
plaint, and thanking him for coming forward. Pearson with-
drew his MCHR charge and there were no further reports of
4
As noted above, Wilson testified that he complained about Smith to
Shifflett prior to February 2006, but there is no evidence that he ever com-
plained to Carty, Green or Bachmeier. We presume that Bachmeier
learned of Smith’s use of the "Buckwheat" name while investigating Pear-
son’s complaints and that the other African-American employee was Wil-
son.
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 9
harassment at the Xerxes plant until April 2007, nearly a full
year later.
C.
On April 10, 2007, Pearson found a 4" x 4" piece of fiber-
glass in his locker with the following message on it: "KKK
plans could result in death, serious personal injury, NIGGA
BENARd." J.A. 639. Pearson reported the incident to the
Union representative and Green, and Xerxes promptly began
an investigation.5 Pearson also reported the incident to the
EEOC. Unfortunately, Pearson could not identify the culprit,
nor name any particular suspect. Xerxes was also unable to
determine who was responsible.
On April 20, 2007, Green reported the incident to the local
Sheriff’s Office. Three days later, Green held a plant meeting
with all employees. At this meeting, Green warned the
employees that the act was inappropriate and unacceptable,
that Xerxes had requested a full police investigation, and that
anyone with information about the incident was expected to
come forward. The employees were advised that Xerxes
"would take immediate and appropriate discipline, which in
all likelihood, would result in termination" should Xerxes or
the police find the person responsible for the act, and that
Xerxes would encourage criminal prosecution if available.
J.A. 525. Xerxes also posted a notice in the plant to the same
effect.
On April 26, 2007, Sheriff’s Deputy Grimm responded to
the plant’s request to investigate the incident. Green advised
5
There is some dispute regarding Pearson’s report of this incident to
Green. Pearson testified that he and the Union representative went directly
to Green, but that Green was busy and asked them to return the next day.
Green claims that Pearson would only say that he found something in his
locker and that he was going to contact an attorney. However, it is undis-
puted that, within a few days, Pearson allowed Green to photograph the
item and cooperated in the investigation.
10 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
Deputy Grimm that Pearson had "reported racial remarks in
the past by fellow employees, but they were handled inter-
nally through human resources and none ever contained any
reference to the ‘KKK’." J.A. 465. Pearson also told Deputy
Grimm that he could identify "no particular person [as a sus-
pect] but stated there were [cliques] in the workplace and a
number of people could be responsible." J.A. 466. The Sher-
iff’s Office was unable to determine who was responsible and
advised Pearson to report any further incidents.
After the April 2007 incident, Green periodically checked
on Pearson to see if he had experienced any further problems.
On June 1, during one such inquiry, Pearson told Green that
someone had put resin on his toolbox lock, but that nothing
else had happened. Pearson told Green that he did not know
who played the prank, but he thought there were still a few
people "play[ing] games with him." J.A. 653. Green told
Pearson that Xerxes would get him a replacement lock and
reminded Pearson to immediately report such incidents. Green
also assured Pearson that "the training [had been done] many
times and everyone knows what they are supposed to do and
not do so if someone is still playing games we will catch them
and we will deal with it strongly." J.A. 653.
On June 11, 2007, Wilson discovered a small, stick-figure
drawing depicting a person hanging by a noose and the phrase
"IH IH MY N*****." J.A. 640. Several days later, Wilson
reported the incident to Shifflett, who made a copy of the
drawing and notified Green. Wilson reported the incident to
the EEOC as well. Green met with Wilson, reported the inci-
dent to the Sheriffs’ Office, and notified the corporate office.
When Mike Zais, Xerxes’ EEO Coordinator at that time,
learned of the incident, he also traveled to the plant to investi-
gate and interview employees. Unfortunately, the person
responsible for this incident was also never identified.6
6
Wilson did not immediately report the drawing to Xerxes. He reported
the incident to his Union representative, who suggested several days later
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 11
On August 30, 2007, Zais summarized Xerxes’ response to
the complaints of racial harassment in a memorandum to Wil-
son. Zais advised Wilson that "in response to [his] concern
and [those] of two other employees," a number of steps had
been taken "in order to make sure that [Xerxes] maintain[s]
a workplace free of discrimination and harassment." J.A. 455.
This included (1) an internal investigation and employee
interviews; (2) enlisting the assistance of the local Sheriff’s
Office; (3) retraining of all supervisors; (4) disciplining three
employees who Xerxes had concluded had violated the prohi-
bition against discrimination and harassment; (5) posting
notices reminding the employees of the standards of conduct
and prohibition of harassment; (6) advising the Union that
Xerxes "will not tolerate racial discrimination or harassment,
and that Xerxes will respond to such conduct with strong dis-
cipline, including the termination of employees when appro-
priate"; and (7) discussing with individual employees
situations in which they may have unintentionally offended
other employees. J.A. 456.
With regard to the sketch itself, Zais assured Wilson that
"Xerxes is both highly offended by and absolutely opposed to
such a communication" and that "[i]f we are able to determine
who created that communication, and if that person is an
employee, Xerxes will in all likelihood terminate their
employment." J.A. 456. Wilson was asked to "immediately
notify" Xerxes if he "learn[ed] of information that would
allow [Xerxes] to identify who created that communication."
that he contact the NAACP. Wilson then took the paper home over the
weekend to consult with his pastor, who was also a local NAACP officer.
At his pastor’s recommendation, Wilson reported the incident to Shifflett
the following week. There is no way to know when the paper was put into
Wilson’s locker. Wilson testified that he "had a whole bunch of papers in"
his locker and that "a couple papers dropped out" when he opened it. J.A.
358. He threw the papers back into the locker, but decided to clean them
out the next day. While doing so, "a little [folded] paper dropped back on
the floor," which he discovered contained the drawing. J.A. 358.
12 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
J.A. 456. Wilson testified that he did not know what Xerxes
could have done to discover who created the drawing.
At the time of this appeal, Wilson was still employed at the
Xerxes plant and, with the exception of an isolated comment
allegedly made by Tammy Smith in August 2008, discussed
infra, he reported no further incidents of racial harassment
after June 2007. Pearson also reported no further incidents of
racial harassment after June 2007. He voluntarily resigned
from Xerxes in February 2008, in order to take a position at
a correctional facility. Prior to leaving, Pearson left a message
with Green indicating his desire to return to Xerxes if his new
position did not work out. The only violation of the anti-
harassment policy that was reported occurred in August 2007.
It involved a racial "joke" told by a white employee to two
other white employees. After unsuccessfully attempting to
stop their coworker, the two employees reported the incident
to Xerxes management and the offending party was immedi-
ately terminated with the support of the Union.
D.
Gradian Graham was employed by Xerxes from August
2004 until April 2007. Graham testified that during the first
two weeks of his employment, coemployee Bob Churchey did
a poor job of training him and encouraged Shifflett to fire
him. After these two weeks, Shifflett reassigned Graham to
Carolyn Reed to complete his training. Graham also testified
that Churchey "used the N word a bunch of different times"
during his employment. J.A. 103. When asked for details,
however, Graham could only state that Churchey had used the
N word on "[n]ot one occasion," but he could not "say the
exact dates of these." J.A. 104. His "best recollection" was
that "[i]t was [during his] time of employment at Xerxes."
J.A. 105. Graham testified that he complained about Chur-
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 13
chey to Shifflett and Carty, but was likewise unable to recall
any details about these alleged complaints.7
Graham’s remaining complaints pertain to Shifflett. On
January 19, 2007, Shifflett told Carty that he was having a
recurring problem with Graham coming to work without the
key to his lock. When Carty met with Graham about Shif-
flett’s concerns, Graham claimed that Shifflett did not like
him because he was black. Carty immediately requested a
meeting with the Union representative and Green. Graham’s
only complaint at this meeting, however, was that Shifflett
"stare[d] at [him] strangely," which Green found insufficient
to support a charge of racial discrimination. J.A. 612. On Jan-
uary 30, 2007, Graham told Carty that Shifflett had looked
under the restroom stall at him and that this incident was wit-
nessed by a coemployee, Tony Yung. Again, the complaint
was immediately investigated by Green. Yung told Green that
Shifflett had entered the bathroom the previous day, but had
simply looked at the sink and walked out. Yung denied that
Shifflett had looked under the stall at Graham. According to
Green, Graham then changed his story and claimed that Shif-
flett had looked at him through the cracks in the stall door,
which was also contrary to Yung’s account. Graham denies
changing his story and maintains that Shifflett looked under
the stall door at him. Green concluded that Graham’s com-
plaint was not been made in good faith and, because Graham
had a documented written warning and recent incident of
insubordination, issued Graham a final warning.
On April 18, 2007, however, Graham was instead termi-
nated for excessive absenteeism after receiving several disci-
plinary warnings for attendance. Graham testified that he had
been having personal and financial problems that interfered
7
Graham also testified that he was followed from Xerxes by several
men in a car in 2005, but the EEOC admits that there is no evidence that
he reported this incident to Xerxes, nor is there any evidence that it was
based on his race.
14 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
with his attendance and work. He never filed a grievance with
the Union regarding racial discrimination, his disciplinary
warnings, or his termination. He also never filed a charge with
the EEOC regarding racial discrimination. The EEOC does
not contend that Graham’s termination is related to alleged
racial harassment.
II.
In July 2008, the EEOC initiated this action on behalf of
Pearson, Wilson, "and a class of black individuals," alleging
a hostile work environment. J.A. 7. Graham was identified as
the only additional complainant during litigation.8
The district court granted summary judgment to Xerxes,
based on its conclusion that Xerxes’ responses to the reports
of harassment were reasonable as a matter of law. Specifi-
cally, the district court held that "whenever Xerxes learned of
harassment, it acted quickly and reasonably effectively to end
it." J.A. 847. With regard to Graham, the district court noted
its "doubts that the sporadic instances of harassment experi-
enced by Mr. Graham would meet [the] threshold" of severe
or pervasive harassment, J.A. 846, and held that Graham’s
complaints about Shifflett were not actionable because there
was insufficient evidence that the incidents were based on
race.
We review de novo the district court’s grant of summary
judgment to Xerxes, "viewing the facts in the light most
favorable to, and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor
of," the EEOC. EEOC v. Central Wholesalers, Inc., 573 F.3d
8
The only other African-American employee working in the assembly
department during the time in question was Neville Haymans. Haymans
began working at the plant on May 15, 2006, and became a permanent
employee in July 2006. He testified that he never heard racial slurs or
jokes in the plant, nor did he ever experience any racial discrimination or
harassment.
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 15
167, 174 (4th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Summary judgment is appropriate "if ‘the pleadings, the dis-
covery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits
show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and
that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.’"
Id. (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)).
III.
Title VII makes it unlawful for an employer "to discrimi-
nate against any individual with respect to his compensation,
terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of
such individual’s race." 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1). Because
"an employee’s work environment is a term or condition of
employment, Title VII creates a hostile working environment
cause of action." Central Wholesalers, 573 F.3d at 174 (inter-
nal quotation marks omitted).
To survive summary judgment on a claim of a racially hos-
tile work environment, the EEOC "must demonstrate that a
reasonable jury could find [the] harassment (1) unwelcome;
(2) based on race; and (3) sufficiently severe or pervasive to
alter the conditions of employment and create an abusive
atmosphere." Spriggs v. Diamond Auto Glass, 242 F.3d 179,
183-84 (4th Cir. 2001). In addition, the EEOC must present
"sufficient evidence of a fourth element: that there is some
basis for imposing liability" for the harassment on the
employer. Id. at 184 (internal quotation marks omitted).
Where an employee has been harassed by a coworker, "the
employer may be liable in negligence [under the fourth ele-
ment] if it knew or should have known about the harassment
and failed to take effective action to stop it." Ocheltree v.
Scollon Prods., 335 F.3d 325, 333-34 (4th Cir. 2003) (en
banc); Howard v. Winter, 446 F.3d 559, 565 (4th Cir. 2006).
"Once the employer has notice, then it must respond with
remedial action reasonably calculated to end the harassment."
EEOC v. Sunbelt Rentals, Inc., 521 F.3d 306, 319 (4th Cir.
16 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
2008) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Mikels v.
City of Durham, 183 F.3d 323, 329 (4th Cir. 1999) ("[O]ur
precedents ha[ve] long defined the basis for imposing liability
under element (4) as being that after having acquired actual
or constructive knowledge of the allegedly harassing conduct,
the employer had taken ‘no prompt and adequate remedial
action to correct it.’") (emphasis added and alteration omitted)
(quoting Spicer v. Commonwealth of Va., Dep’t of Corr., 66
F.3d 705, 710 (4th Cir. 1995) (en banc)).
"The institution and enforcement of [an anti-harassment]
policy, in conjunction with an adequate complaint procedure,
aid the employer in establishing that it has exercised reason-
able care to prevent discrimination." Spriggs, 242 F.3d at 187
(internal quotation marks omitted). "However, the mere pro-
mulgation of an anti-harassment policy, no matter how well-
conceived, will not suffice to show the requisite level of care
where the employer has administered the policy in bad faith
or has rendered it ineffectual by acting unreasonably." Id.
(internal quotation marks omitted); see also Sunbelt, 521 F.3d
at 320 ("While the adoption of an effective anti-harassment
policy is an important factor in determining whether [an
employer] exercised reasonable care, the policy must be
effective in order to have meaningful value." (internal quota-
tion marks omitted)).
In this case it is undisputed that Xerxes’ anti-harassment
policies "provide[d] reasonable procedures for victims to reg-
ister complaints." Ocheltree, 335 F.3d at 334; Howard, 446
F.3d at 568. Thus, for purposes of the fourth element, we need
only inquire as to whether the EEOC presented sufficient evi-
dence to demonstrate that Xerxes’ responses to the complaints
made under its policies were not reasonably calculated to end
the harassment and, therefore, that liability for the harassment
may be imputed to it.
There is no "exhaustive list" or "particular combination" of
remedial measures or steps that an employer need employ to
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 17
insulate itself from liability. Central Wholesalers, 573 F.3d at
178. Among other things, we have considered the promptness
of the employer’s investigation when complaints are made,
whether offending employees were counseled or disciplined
for their actions, and whether the employer’s response was
actually effective. However, the mere fact that harassment
reoccurs in the workplace, either by the same offender or dif-
ferent offenders, does not, ipso facto, allow a jury to conclude
that an employer’s response was not reasonably calculated to
end the harassment. See Adler v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 144
F.3d 664, 676 (10th Cir. 1998). The cessation of "harassment
shows effectiveness, which in turn evidences such reasonable
calculation." Id.; see also Mikels, 183 F.3d at 330 (noting that
we "have given great weight to the fact that a particular
response was demonstrably adequate to cause cessation of the
conduct in question"). But "this is not the sole factor to be
considered. Because there is no strict liability and an
employer must only respond reasonably, a response may be
so calculated even though the perpetrator might persist,"
Adler, 144 F.3d at 676, or, as in this case, harassment reoccurs
in the workplace. "A remedial action that effectively stops the
harassment will be deemed adequate as a matter of law. On
the other hand, it is possible that an action that proves to be
ineffective in stopping the harassment may nevertheless be
found reasonably calculated to prevent future harassment and
therefore adequate . . . as a matter of law." Knabe v. Boury
Corp., 114 F.3d 407, 411-12 n.8 (3d Cir. 1997). In such cases,
[courts] consider the timeliness of the plaintiff’s
complaint, whether the employer unduly delayed,
and whether the response was proportional to the
seriousness and frequency of the harassment. . . . By
way of example, responses that have been held rea-
sonable have often included prompt investigation of
the allegations, proactive solicitation of complaints,
scheduling changes and transfers, oral or written
warnings to refrain from harassing conduct, repri-
mands, and warnings that future misconduct could
18 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
result in progressive discipline, including suspension
and termination.
The employer is, of course, obliged to respond to
any repeat conduct; and whether the next employer
response is reasonable may very well depend upon
whether the employer progressively stiffens its disci-
pline, or vainly hopes that no response, or the same
response as before, will be effective. Repeat conduct
may show the unreasonableness of prior responses.
On the other hand, an employer is not liable,
although [harassment] persists, so long as each
response was reasonable. It follows that an employer
is not required to terminate a [particular] perpetrator
except where termination is the only response that
would be reasonably calculated to end the harass-
ment.
Adler, 144 F.3d at 676-77 (10th Cir. 1998) (citations omitted);
see also Central Wholesalers, 573 F.3d at 178 (noting that we
also consider whether the employer took "increasingly pro-
gressive measures to address the harassment when its [initial]
responses proved ineffective").
IV.
We begin with the district court’s grant of summary judg-
ment on the hostile work environment claims advanced by the
EEOC on behalf of Pearson and Wilson. The EEOC contends
that the district court erred in granting summary judgment to
Xerxes as to these claims because a reasonable jury could find
(1) that Xerxes was placed on actual notice of racial harass-
ment by coworkers of Pearson in June 2005 and of Wilson in
November 2005, when they first complained to Shifflett,
respectively; (2) that Xerxes failed to respond to their com-
plaints at all until February 2006; and (3) that Xerxes failed
to respond to their complaints thereafter with remedial action
reasonably calculated to end the harassment.
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 19
A.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
EEOC, we conclude that a genuine issue of material fact
exists as to whether Xerxes had notice of the alleged racial
slurs and pranks in the workplace prior to February 2006, but
failed to respond with any remedial action.
Pearson and Wilson each testified that prior to February
2006, they were subjected to the repeated use of racial slurs
by Gatrell and Myers, as well as to various pranks by
unknown coworkers that they believed were racially moti-
vated. In addition, Wilson testified that Tammy Smith used
racially-tinged names when addressing him. If the facts are as
asserted by Pearson and Wilson, they would constitute racial
harassment sufficient to "alter the conditions of employment
and create an abusive atmosphere." Spriggs, 242 F.3d at 183-
84. The men also testified that they first reported this harass-
ment to Shifflett in June 2005 and November 2005, respec-
tively, and continued as the incidents occurred thereafter, up
to and including the complaints they made on February 3,
2006 about Gatrell and Myers. However, Xerxes did nothing
in response to their complaints until February 2006.
At the time of the prior complaints, Xerxes’ Compliance
Program Guide advised employees that they "may report a
violation [of the Program] by approaching or telephoning
[their] supervisor, Plant Manager, . . . or a member of Xerxes’
Compliance Committee, as the circumstances dictate." J.A.
487 (emphasis added). As the direct supervisor of Pearson and
Wilson, therefore, Shifflett was specifically designated as an
appropriate person to receive such complaints.
Xerxes disputes that complaints of racial harassment were
made to Shifflett prior to the February 3, 2006 incident with
Gatrell and Myers, but a jury could reasonably credit the testi-
mony of Pearson and Wilson and conclude otherwise.
Accordingly, we hold that a reasonable juror could find that
20 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
the complaints by Pearson and Wilson to Shifflett prior to
February 2006 were sufficient to place Xerxes on actual
notice of the racial slurs and pranks in the plant and that Xer-
xes’ response was unreasonable. Accordingly, we vacate the
district court’s award of summary judgment for any alleged
racial harassment of Pearson and Wilson occurring before
February 2006, and we remand for further proceedings as to
this time period.
B.
With regard to the incidents of racial harassment that were
reported on February 3, 2006 and beyond, however, we hold
that Xerxes’ response to each reported incident was reason-
ably calculated to end the harassment and, therefore, reason-
able as a matter of law. Accordingly, we affirm the district
court’s award of summary judgment for the alleged racial
harassment as to this time period.
1.
As of February 2006, Xerxes had in place extensive anti-
harassment policies consistent with Title VII that directed
plant employees to immediately report any racial harassment
to their supervisor and the plant manager. The employees
were assured that their complaints would be promptly investi-
gated and that appropriate remedial action would be taken.
On February 3, 2006, when Shifflett and Green were made
aware of the incident involving Gatrell and Myers, Xerxes’
response was prompt and proportional to the seriousness of
the offense. Gatrell and Myers were individually counseled
and they apologized. In addition, Green held a meeting with
the shift employees to review Xerxes’ anti-harassment poli-
cies and warn that future misconduct would result in disci-
plinary action. The fact that formal disciplinary action, such
as suspension or termination, was not taken against Gatrell
and Myers at that time is an insufficient basis for concluding
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 21
that Xerxes’ response was unreasonable. See Knabe, 114 F.3d
at 414 ("[T]aking punitive action against [a] harassing
employee, e.g., reprimand, suspension or dismissal, is not
necessary to insulate the employee from liability for a hostile
work environment. So long as the remedy is reasonably calcu-
lated to prevent future instances of harassment, the company
cannot be held liable.") (footnote omitted). As the EEOC has
argued, Green apparently believed that, because Gatrell and
Myers had apologized and the anti-harassment training had
been reinforced, they would not continue to use offensive lan-
guage in the workplace. His assumption was correct. While
Myers and Gatrell were disciplined for their prior conduct in
July 2006, there is no evidence that either of them engaged in
acts of racial harassment after February 3, 2006.
In May 2006, Pearson complained to Shifflett and Carty
about other coworkers using racially-offensive terms to
describe music being played in the plant. Pearson also told
Carty about his previous problems with Myers and Gatrell,
and told Carty that he wanted the racial slurs to stop. When
Green learned of Pearson’s complaint, he notified the corpo-
rate office, and an escalated response ensued. Bachmeier
immediately traveled to the plant to conduct a formal investi-
gation and employee interviews. At the conclusion of the
investigation, Xerxes imposed written disciplinary action
upon Myers and Gatrell, including two-day unpaid suspen-
sions from work, and issued a final, written warning that any
future violations of the anti-harassment policies would result
in their termination. Bradley received a written disciplinary
warning for his use of a racially-offensive term to describe
music, and he was advised that he faced possible termination
for future violations as well. Tammy Smith was verbally
counseled for her use of a racial nickname during her conver-
sation with another African-American employee, presumably
Wilson. In addition, Bachmeier conducted refresher training
of all supervisory and nonsupervisory employees in their
respective obligations under Xerxes’ anti-harassment policies.
22 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
In sum, Xerxes’ response to the complaints of racial harass-
ment in 2006, taken in consultation with the Union represen-
tatives for the victims and the accused, was prompt,
proportional to the seriousness and frequency of the various
offenses, and employed "increasingly progressive measures to
address the harassment" that had occurred in the workplace.
Central Wholesalers, 573 F.3d at 178; see Adler, 144 F.3d at
676. This included employee counseling and disciplinary
action, suspensions of two employees, and warnings that
future misconduct could result in progressive discipline, up to
and including termination. It was not only "reasonably calcu-
lated to end the harassment" as a matter of law, Sunbelt, 521
F.3d at 319 (internal quotation marks omitted), it was actually
effective. There were no reported incidents of racial slurs for
over two years, and no incidents of pranks for nearly a year
thereafter.9
2.
In April and June 2007, Pearson and Wilson each found an
anonymous, racially-charged message in his locker. The mes-
sages were unquestionably abhorrent. However, they were of
a much different character than the racial slurs and pranks that
had been the subject of the complaints the previous year.
There was no reason to believe that the employees disciplined
in 2006 were involved in the incidents in 2007. And the
EEOC failed to present any evidence that the two incidents
occurred because the disciplinary action and training imple-
mented in response to the 2006 complaints were inadequate.
Xerxes’ response to these new incidents was also prompt
and reasonably calculated to put a stop to any further such
9
This conclusion is also supported by the testimony of Haymans who,
as noted earlier, began his employment in the Assembly Department on
May 15, 2006, about the time of Pearson’s complaint to Carty. He testified
that he never heard racial slurs or experienced racial harassment in the
workplace.
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 23
activity in the workplace. Indeed, we can think of nothing fur-
ther that Xerxes could have done to convey to the perpetrators
how seriously Xerxes viewed these incidents and how aggres-
sively it would pursue disciplinary action if it succeeded in
identifying the culprits. In addition to conducting internal
investigations, Xerxes reported the incidents to the local Sher-
iff’s Office. Green held a plant-wide meeting and notified all
employees (which would, of course, have included the perpe-
trators if they were employees) that law enforcement had been
notified and a full investigation requested. The employees
were advised that anyone with information was "expect[ed] to
come forward," J.A. 525 (emphasis added), and they were
warned that the perpetrators, if identified, would face proba-
ble termination and possible criminal prosecution.10
Xerxes’ EEO Coordinator also traveled to the plant to per-
sonally investigate the incidents, interview employees, and
review the company’s efforts to address the situation. In the
meantime, Green routinely checked on Pearson to ensure that
he was experiencing no further incidents of racial harassment
and, if he was, that Xerxes was being made aware of them. It
was through this proactive enforcement of Xerxes’ anti-
harassment policy that Green learned of the single, but also
anonymous, toolbox prank that occurred in the midst of the
two locker incidents. Green assured Pearson that the training
had been done and that Xerxes would continue to respond
aggressively to known offenders, and reminded him to imme-
diately report any such violations to him.
10
Xerxes’ Compliance Program Guide provides that "failing to report or
condoning a violation of the law, the principles contained in th[e] compli-
ance guide or Xerxes’ Compliance Program will lead to disciplinary action
up to and including termination." J.A. 493. In addition, the anti-
harassment policy informs employees that they "Must" report any harass-
ment that they "Have Been Subjected To Or Have Observed," J.A. 481,
and the CBA requires Union employees to report violations of the CBA
to their Union representatives.
24 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
For their part, neither Pearson nor Wilson offered any sug-
gestions of additional steps Xerxes should have taken to iden-
tify the perpetrators or otherwise respond in a more
reasonable or effective manner. And the EEOC, in response
to Xerxes’ interrogatory asking it to "identify all actions that
[Xerxes] should have taken but did not that would have dem-
onstrated an exercise of reasonable care to prevent and correct
promptly racial harassment or race discrimination," responded
simply that Xerxes "ha[d] not effectively stopped or pre-
vented racial harassment in its workplace." J.A. 719. That,
however, is not the standard for imputing liability on Xerxes.
We conclude that Xerxes’ response in 2007 was also "rea-
sonably calculated to end the harassment" as a matter of law,
Sunbelt, 521 F.3d at 319 (internal quotation marks omitted),
and that it was effective in doing so. No further racially-
charged threats or workplace pranks occurred after Xerxes’
response. The single reported violation of Xerxes’ anti-
harassment policy was the racial joke that was told by a white
coworker in August 2007, which resulted in the employees
reporting the offense in accordance with the anti-harassment
policies and the offending employee being fired.
3.
Finally, the EEOC claims that, despite this demonstrable
effectiveness, a reasonable jury could find that Xerxes’
responses in 2006 and 2007 were unreasonable based upon
Pearson’s testimony that he was subjected to two isolated
racial slurs in August 2007, and Wilson’s testimony that he
was subjected to a single racial slur in August 2008.
Pearson testified that in August 2007, coworker Sam Crone
referred to African-American women as "nappy headed hos,"
and Tammy Smith told him that he looked like "Curious
George" as he was climbing a ladder. Pearson did not, how-
ever, report these alleged incidents to Xerxes at the time and
he resigned a few months later. Accordingly, Xerxes was
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 25
given no opportunity to investigate the complaints or respond
appropriately.
Wilson testified that, in August 2008, after this lawsuit was
filed, Tammy Smith said to him, "I hope this does not offend
you, but I’m not trying to be nobody’s white n*****," as she
was cleaning up a work area. J.A. 376. Wilson claims that he
reported the comment to Shifflett, but does not claim that he
reported it to Green or any other management employee as he
had been instructed. Xerxes contends that it first learned of
the alleged incident several weeks later, when the EEOC
attorney reported it to Xerxes’ attorney. When Green investi-
gated the claim, he was unable to corroborate it. Wilson
advised Green that there were no witnesses to Smith’s alleged
statement. Smith "absolutely denie[d] having made the state-
ment" and "state[d] that she never used the N_____ word" to
Wilson. J.A. 459 (internal quotation marks omitted). Wilson
also claimed that he reported the incident to the Union repre-
sentative, but the Union representative told Green that he
thought he heard it "‘through the grapevine.’" J.A. 459.
Accordingly, Green notified Wilson that he had been unable
to substantiate the allegation and took no further action.
The EEOC makes much of these alleged, albeit isolated,
racial remarks, particularly the unreported and uncorroborated
accusations against Smith, as evidence from which a jury
could reasonably conclude that Xerxes’ previous disciplinary
action against her and the others was unreasonable. We dis-
agree.
As an initial premise, we note that "an employer cannot be
expected to correct harassment unless the employee makes a
concerted effort to inform the employer that a problem exists"
under its reasonable procedures. Howard, 446 F.3d at 567
(emphasis added). Thus, "employee[s] claiming harassment
by a coworker bear[ ] significant responsibility in notifying
the employer." Id. at 570; see Barrett v. Applied Radiant
Energy Corp., 240 F.3d 262, 268 (4th Cir. 2001) (noting that
26 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
"[l]ittle can be done to correct [harassing] behavior unless the
victim first blows the whistle on it"). Here, both Pearson and
Wilson inexplicably failed to avail themselves of Xerxes’
available procedures to report these additional instances of
racial slurs in the workplace, procedures of which they were
undeniably aware and had effectively used in the past.
Even if the alleged racial slurs by Smith had been properly
reported, however, this would be an insufficient basis upon
which to conclude that Xerxes’ discipline of Smith or the oth-
ers in 2006 was too light to be reasonable. Plaintiffs often feel
that their employer "could have done more to remedy the
adverse effects of the employee’s conduct. But Title VII
requires only that the employer take steps reasonably likely to
stop the harassment." Knabe, 114 F.3d at 414 (internal quota-
tion marks and alteration omitted). The standard "in no way
requires an employer to dispense with fair procedures for
those accused or to discharge every alleged harasser. And a
good faith investigation of alleged harassment may satisfy the
. . . standard, even if the investigation turns up no evidence
of harassment. Such an employer may avoid liability even if
a jury later concludes that in fact harassment occurred." Har-
ris v. L&L Wings, Inc., 132 F.3d 978, 984 (4th Cir. 1997)
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted); see also
Adler, 144 F.3d at 677 ("The courts . . . must balance the vic-
tim’s rights, the employer’s rights, and the alleged harasser’s
rights. If our rule were to call for excessive discipline,
employers would inevitably face claims from the other direc-
tion of violations of due process rights and wrongful termina-
tion.")
This principle finds particular significance in this case,
where Xerxes bore responsibility to investigate its employees’
complaints of racial harassment by their coworkers and an
obligation to fairly investigate and only discipline offending
coworkers, including Smith, in a manner consistent with the
protections the Union afforded to all nonsupervisory employ-
ees in the workplace. As the district court aptly noted below,
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 27
"[g]iven Xerxes’ collective bargaining agreement with the
employees’ union, it is difficult to imagine what further steps
Xerxes might have taken to discipline [its] employees or to
prevent future instances of harassment." J.A. 850.
4.
In the end, the crux of the EEOC’s claim on appeal is the
same as its answer to Xerxes’ interrogatory at the outset of
this litigation: that a reasonable jury could conclude that Xer-
xes’ response to the reports of harassment in the workplace
was not "reasonably calculated to end the harassment," Cen-
tral Wholesalers, 573 F.3d at 177 (internal quotation marks
omitted), because subsequent incidents of harassment, albeit
isolated and temporally distant, occurred. This, however, is
but a variation of strict liability, which employers do not bear
for claims of coworker harassment. See Tademy v. Union Pac.
Corp., 614 F.3d 1132, 1148 (10th Cir. 2008) ("Because there
is no strict liability and an employer must only respond rea-
sonably, a response may be so calculated even though the per-
petrator might persist.") (internal quotation marks omitted);
Adler, 144 F.3d at 676 ("[A]n employer is not liable, although
a perpetrator persists, so long as each response was reason-
able.").
"While employers can and should be required to adopt rea-
sonable policies aimed at preventing illegal conduct and to
take reasonable measures to enforce these policies, they can-
not be held to a standard under which they are liable for any
and all inappropriate conduct of their employees." Spicer, 66
F.3d at 711. "Employers cannot be saddled with the insur-
mountable task of conforming all employee conduct at all
times to the dictates of Title VII, irrespective of their knowl-
edge of such conduct or the remedial measures taken in
response to such conduct." Id. So long as the employer’s
response to each known incident of coworker harassment is
reasonably prompt, and the employer takes remedial measures
28 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
that are reasonably calculated to end the harassment, liability
may not be imputed to the employer as a matter of law.
Here, Xerxes’ responses to each reported incident of
harassment as of February 2006 were "prompt and either
effective or proportional to the seriousness and frequency of
the incidents, and therefore [they] were reasonably calculated
to end the harassment." Adler, 144 F.3d at 677. When harass-
ment reoccurred, Xerxes "t[ook] increasingly progressive
measures to address [it]." Central Wholesalers, 573 F.3d at
178. Where the alleged offenders were known and the
offenses could be corroborated, Xerxes took disciplinary
action, in the form of counseling, written reprimands, final
warnings, suspensions, and, in one instance, termination, and
conducted refresher training of the workforce in its anti-
harassment policies. Where the perpetrators were unknown
and could not be identified, Xerxes enlisted the assistance of
the local police department and warned its entire workforce of
the serious consequences that would ensue if the perpetrators
were identified. Holding Xerxes "liable under these circum-
stances would be tantamount to imposing strict liability on an
employer . . . regardless of the employer’s . . . response,"
Spicer, 66 F.3d at 711, and "would make employers insurers
against future [racial] harassment by coworkers after an initial
employee response, regardless of the nature of the response
taken. This is liability without end," Adler, 144 F.3d at 679.
Because the EEOC has failed to present sufficient evidence
upon which a jury could find that Xerxes’ responses to the
reported incidents of racial harassment beginning in February
2006 were not reasonably calculated to end the harassment,
liability for the subsequent, isolated acts of coworker harass-
ment of Pearson and Wilson may not be imputed to Xerxes.
Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s award of summary
judgment as it pertains to this time period.
V.
This brings us to the district court’s grant of summary judg-
ment to Xerxes on the racial harassment claims advanced by
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 29
the EEOC on behalf of Graham. In addition to granting sum-
mary judgment to Xerxes based upon its conclusion that Xer-
xes’ responses to the reports of harassment were reasonable,
the district court expressed doubt that Graham had satisfied
the threshold requirement of demonstrating that he was sub-
jected to severe or pervasive harassment, and held that there
was insufficient evidence that Shifflett’s alleged actions were
based on race.
The determination of whether "race-based harassment was
so severe or pervasive as to alter the conditions of" employ-
ment includes "both subjective and objective components."
Central Wholesalers, 573 F.3d at 175. The employee must
demonstrate that he "did perceive, and a reasonable person
would perceive, the environment to be abusive or hostile." Id.
"[W]hen determining whether the harassing conduct was
objectively severe or pervasive, we must look at all the cir-
cumstances, including the frequency of the discriminatory
conduct; its severity; whether it is physically threatening or
humiliating, or a mere offensive utterance; and whether it
unreasonably interferes with an employee’s work perfor-
mance." Sunbelt, 521 F.3d at 315 (internal quotation marks
omitted).
The EEOC "‘must clear a high bar in order to satisfy the
severe or pervasive test.’" Central Wholesalers, 573 F.3d at
176 (internal quotation marks omitted). It "must show that the
environment was pervaded with discriminatory conduct aimed
to humiliate, ridicule, or intimidate, thereby creating an abu-
sive atmosphere." Id. (internal quotation marks omitted).
Thus, we have held that "conclusory statements, without spe-
cific evidentiary support, cannot support an actionable claim
for harassment," Causey v. Balog, 162 F.3d 795, 802 (4th Cir.
1998), and that allegations "[un]substantiated by accounts of
specific dates, times or circumstances," are too "general" to
suffice, Carter v. Ball, 33 F.3d 450, 461-62 (4th Cir. 1994).
Here, the EEOC has failed to present sufficient evidence
upon which a jury could conclude that Graham was subjected
30 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
to a racially hostile work environment. Graham’s testimony
consists of general statements that Churchey used a racial slur
"a bunch of different times," J.A. 103, and, later, that it was
"[n]ot one occasion," J.A. 104. However, his "best recollec-
tion" was only that this occurred at some point during his
"time of employment" at Xerxes, which spanned from August
2004 until April 2007. Graham’s testimony is wholly unsup-
ported by any detail, context, examples, or time frame. "Such
[general] assertions, standing alone, are [simply] insufficient
to sustain an actionable Title VII claim." Gilliam v. South
Carolina Dep’t of Juvenile Justice, 474 F.3d 134, 143 (4th
Cir. 2007). Similarly, Graham’s uncorroborated testimony
that Churchey trained him poorly during the first two weeks
of his employment, before he was reassigned to Carolyn Reed
for training, is insufficient to establish a Title VII claim.
There is insufficient evidence to show that Churchey’s poor
training of Graham was based on his race and insufficient evi-
dence that Graham’s "environment was [so] pervaded with
discriminatory conduct aimed to humiliate, ridicule, or intimi-
date, [as to] creat[e] an abusive atmosphere." Central Whole-
salers, 573 F.3d at 176 (internal quotation marks omitted).
Finally, we agree that Graham’s allegations regarding Shif-
flett’s conduct in January 2007 fail to support an actionable
Title VII claim. Graham complains that Shifflett stared at him
strangely and looked at him when he was in a bathroom stall.
However, there is no evidence that Shifflett’s actions, even if
they occurred, were motivated by Graham’s race, see Haw-
kins v. PepsiCo, Inc., 203 F.3d 274, 281 (4th Cir. 2000) (con-
cluding that disputes with a supervisor, without evidence that
harassment was racial in nature, were not enough to sustain
summary judgment on hostile work environment claim), and
Xerxes’ responses to Graham’s complaints about Shifflett
were reasonable. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s
grant of summary judgment for Xerxes as it pertains to Gra-
ham.
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 31
VI.
Because there is a genuine issue of material fact as to
whether Xerxes was on notice of racial harassment of Pearson
and Wilson prior to February 2006, and took no action rea-
sonably calculated to end the harassment, we vacate the dis-
trict court’s award of summary judgment as it pertains to that
time period, and remand for further proceedings consistent
with this opinion. The remainder of the district court’s deci-
sion is affirmed.
AFFIRMED IN PART,
VACATED IN PART,
AND REMANDED
WILKINSON, Circuit Judge, concurring:
The undisguised ugliness of the incidents alleged here
stands as a rebuke to complacency and a reminder that the
task of racial reconciliation in our country remains incom-
plete. When judges speak of impermissible alterations of the
terms and conditions of employment, what we mean is that no
one should endure under law displays of racial bigotry at
work.
The court is right to recognize that the company for the
most part did not sit on its hands. As the district court has
documented, Xerxes took the reports of rank prejudice in its
midst quite seriously. I can hardly fault the able judge for
believing that taken as a whole, the company’s response was
reasonably calculated to end the harassment. See J.A. 847
("The record . . . reveals that whenever Xerxes learned of
harassment, it acted quickly and reasonably effectively to end
it.").
It is understandable, in one sense, for the EEOC to believe
that the company should have done more — that, as the
agency puts it, "Xerxes knew about the racial harassment of
32 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
all three class members but failed to take prompt or effective
remedial action." Appellant’s Br. at 31. Therein lies peril. To
push employers to immediate and draconian actions is to dis-
pense with any semblance of due process — to require disci-
plining the accused upon mere accusation. It is true the
defendant here is not a state actor, but no entity — public or
private — should be denied the leeway to sort out right from
wrong.
There is a danger also, if the law requires too heavy an
employer fist, that we stiffen interpersonal relationships; pun-
ish those inadvertent insensitivities that can arise even among
persons of good will; and discourage the formation of friend-
ships free of boundaries — the sole felicitous path upon
which a decent people may proceed.
These hostile environment cases often defy hasty judgment.
I write simply to commend the court for its good sense and
balance — affirming in substantial part, but sending one claim
back for a closer, further look. I am pleased to concur in its
opinion. For every sad window such as this upon our daily
lives, there is a hopeful one — unreported, unlitigated, but in
its own way, a harbinger of happier times to come.
DIANA GRIBBON MOTZ, Circuit Judge, concurring:
In my view, the EEOC offered ample evidence of severe
and pervasive racial harassment of two African-American
employees—Bernard Pearson and Keith Wilson—by their co-
workers. The conduct of the harassing co-workers was not
just ugly, it was outrageous. The record is rife with testimony
of racial slurs directed at Mr. Pearson and Mr. Wilson from
at least six fellow Xerxes employees. The record also contains
evidence that anonymous pranks were played on them and
vile anonymous threats made to them. No one should be sub-
jected to such abuse in the workplace. The panel opinion
rightly concludes that the EEOC offered sufficient evidence
EEOC v. XERXES CORP. 33
of severe and pervasive racial harassment in Xerxes’s work-
place to require a trial on that issue.
But not all workplace harassment—even harassment as
severe and pervasive as that at issue here—imposes liability
on the employer. Rather, "the EEOC must establish some
basis for imposing liability" on the employer. EEOC v. Sun-
belt Rentals, Inc., 521 F.3d 306, 319 (4th Cir. 2008).
If an employer’s president or another management official
"indisputably within that class of . . . officials who may be
treated as the organization’s proxy" had perpetrated this
harassment, it would certainly be imputable to the employer.
Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775, 789 (1998).
Moreover, we have held that when an employee perpetrates
such harassment on a fellow employee, it will also be imput-
able to the employer—provided that the employer knew about
the harassment and failed to "respond with remedial action
reasonably calculated to end the harassment." EEOC v. Cen-
tral Wholesalers, Inc., 573 F.3d 167, 177 (4th Cir.
2009)(quoting Sunbelt Rentals, 521 F.3d at 319).
In this case, the EEOC does not contend high level officials
of Xerxes management perpetrated the harassment. Rather,
the EEOC’s only contention is that fellow employees engaged
in these dreadful acts of racial harassment. To render Xerxes
responsible for its employees’ actions, the EEOC must offer
evidence that Xerxes failed to take remedial action calculated
to end the harassment. For the period after February 2006, the
panel holds that the EEOC has failed to offer such evidence.
In retrospect, I believe that more aggressive, early correc-
tive action by Xerxes would have been well advised. How-
ever, although this is a very close case, it seems to me our
precedent does not require Xerxes to undertake such action.
For our precedent holds that an employer’s "particular reme-
dial responses" need not be the "most certainly effective that
could be devised." Mikels v. City of Durham, N.C., 183 F.3d
34 EEOC v. XERXES CORP.
323, 330 (4th Cir. 1999); see also Spicer v. Comm. of Va.,
Dep’t of Corr., 66 F.3d 705, 710 (4th Cir. 1995)(en
banc)("[W]e have never suggested that an employer must
make the most effective response possible . . . ."). Given this
precedent, I think we must conclude that the EEOC failed to
offer evidence that the remedial action undertaken by Xerxes,
after February 2006, was inadequate.
Accordingly, I concur.