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Four Black employees at an IHOP in Florida are suing the restaurant chain and its franchisee, alleging a white former manager subjected them to years of racist harassment and retaliated after they complained.
Margaret Bennett, 45; Stephanie Davis, 51; Carline Hunter, 49; and Jeffrey Wright, 51, brought the lawsuit after working at the Pompano Beach restaurant. The workers allege they experienced repeated discriminatory treatment, according to The Independent.
The allegations center on former shift manager Brenda Bertetchuk. In 2023, she allegedly responded to a Black customer returning an overcooked omelet by saying, “I thought you people like it burned,” according to The Independent.
The complaint, obtained by The Independent, also describes comments tied to slavery and Juneteenth.
Bertetchuk allegedly asked Black employees, “Why you all at work today if it’s the day my people let your people free?”
She allegedly told workers, “My people were still selling you guys so shut up and do your job.”
The workers also allege Bertetchuk wore a hat depicting a monkey while around Black employees and told them, “If it’s not white, then it’s not right.”
She allegedly referred to herself as “the master,” talked about having “whips” and mimicked the sound of a whip cracking.
The lawsuit alleges the workers repeatedly reported the conduct to management and human resources. They say the retaliation that followed included reduced hours, unsafe kitchen conditions and termination.
Bennett and Wright were ultimately fired, while Davis and Hunter allege their hours were substantially cut.
Bertetchuk told The Independent she left IHOP about three years ago and remembered the plaintiffs but declined to discuss the lawsuit because she was at work.
The lawsuit was filed July 24 and moved to federal court August 26.
IHOP and franchisee Sunshine Restaurant Merger Sub, LLC did not respond to The Independent’s requests for comment.
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