Black IHOP Employees in Florida File Lawsuit Alleging Persistent Racist Abuse by Manager
POLICY WIRE — Pompano Beach, Florida — A group of Black employees at an IHOP restaurant in Pompano Beach, Florida, have filed a lawsuit against the establishment, accusing their shift manager, Brenda...
POLICY WIRE — Pompano Beach, Florida — A group of Black employees at an IHOP restaurant in Pompano Beach, Florida, have filed a lawsuit against the establishment, accusing their shift manager, Brenda Bertetchuk, of persistent racist behavior. The employees allege that Bertetchuk subjected them to repeated racial slurs, derogatory comments, and a hostile work environment.
The plaintiffs, servers Margaret Bennett, Stephanie Davis, and Carline Hunter, along with cook Jeffrey Wright, claim that Bertetchuk frequently belittled them while they worked at the IHOP. In one instance, when a Black customer returned an overcooked omelet, Bertetchuk reportedly commented, I thought you people liked it burned.
Bertetchuk is also accused of making offensive remarks about Juneteenth, stating, “Why [are] you all at work today if it’s the day my people let your people free?” She allegedly wore a hat depicting a monkey while interacting with African-American employees and insisted that staff obey her orders because she was the master.
The complaint details that Bertetchuk’s behavior towards Wright became increasingly sexualized, with her making repeated comments about his anatomy and touching him inappropriately. The employees claim they made numerous internal complaints about the alleged discrimination but found their working conditions worsened.
After learning she was the focus of the reports, Bertetchuk is said to have turned off the kitchen’s air conditioning, creating unsafe and excessively hot working conditions. She then reduced or cut the Black employees’ hours, effectively terminating them.
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IHOP has faced previous claims of racial discrimination. In 2024, employees were fired from a Texas IHOP after a server refused to wait on a Black couple. In 2018, staff at a Maine IHOP underwent retraining after a server allegedly insisted that a group of Black customers pay for their meals in advance.
The plaintiffs in the Florida case are seeking lost wages, employment benefits, emotional distress damages, and punitive damages. IHOP and the attorneys defending the chain and franchisee have not responded to requests for comment.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
