A Black North Carolina man said he was threatened and forced to quit after reporting a coworker for discrimination.
Kevin Ellis, who worked for McDermott International Inc. in Arden outside of Asheville, had reported a coworker for allegedly making racist remarks, according to a May 5 civil lawsuit filed in federal court. While the employee was ultimately terminated, Ellis’ attorneys said that he began to suffer from subsequent instances of harassment from his other colleagues.
“As a direct and proximate result of the retaliatory treatment, hostile work environment, and unsafe working conditions that Ellis was subjected to, Ellis resigned his employment with McDermott,” states Charlotte Observer reported.
The culprit? Technology.
Panic at the pumps
Colonial Pipeline, operator of one of the nation s largest fuel pipelines, endured a ransomware attack May 7. Transportation officials told residents they d only make things worse if they panicked.
But many residents panicked anyway. People hear something and panic, said Tiffany Wright, spokeswoman for AAA Carolinas.
Current shortages are driven by people rushing to buy gas whether they need it or not, she said. It s still early, but what I will say is that we do have ample supply even though the Colonial Pipeline is responsible for 45% of the fuel going to the East Coast, Wright said.
Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger announced this week he will seek a fourth term in the upcoming 2022 election.
“It’s been my honor to serve the citizens of Gaston County for the last 17 years as your sheriff, Cloninger wrote in a statement released by his campaign. Throughout my tenure, I have worked diligently to serve and protect all of our citizens and the county. Working with the brave deputies, detention officers and our administrative staff we have always put the interest of public safety and service first.”
Cloninger, 64, has been sheriff since 2005, first appointed to the position after the retirement of the late Leroy Russell. He first won election in 2010, again in 2014 and in 2018.
A Gaston County man who represented himself on charges of drug possession without the help of a lawyer has won a new trial after a state appellate court ruled he should have had help from legal counsel.
James Eugene Pittman Jr., 33, of Gastonia, was given a probationary sentence after a 2018 conviction for possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine.
Gaston County Police arrested Pittman in November 2017 after reportedly finding one-fourth of an ounce of methamphetamine in his jacket pocket during a search at Pittman s home when police were looking for other suspects who were reported to be there.
On appeal, Pittman argued that he did not waive his right to legal counsel and that Superior Court Judge Nathaniel J. Poovey forced him to represent himself at trial.
Last modified on Tue 11 May 2021 00.11 EDT
The bosses of 14 big organisations, including Capita, Unilever and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), have pledged to put the wellbeing of staff, local communities and broader society higher on the boardroom agenda, after concluding it will enhance the long-term profitability of their businesses.
The Purposeful Company, a not-for-profit organisation, said it had brought together business leaders from leading FTSE 100 companies and large accountancy firms, whose businesses employ 2 million people and manage £1tn of investment assets, to show that having a purpose beyond a simple profit motive “brings strategic clarity, operational discipline around what’s material to stakeholders and more meaningful work for employees”.