A Williamsburg woman is suing her former employer, claiming the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation racially discriminated against her and fired her after she tried to open a discussion about conditions of her employment.
Laura Hill, 54, filed the lawsuit Oct. 26 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleging she experienced race discrimination, religious discrimination, age discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment while she was an employee of the foundation.
The lawsuit asks for a $12 million judgment.
Hill, who is black, was fired Oct. 23 after attempting to meet with a manager about “reduced, responsibilities, work hours and wages,” her attorney, David Branch, said in a news release Friday.
Hill worked for the foundation for 12 years, seven of those years as a historical interpreter.
“The harsh legacy of slavery is manifested in JYF’s staffing and dealings with African American employees,” the release reads.
The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation employed about 400 people as of Dec. 31, 2017, including historical interpreters such as Hill, and operates two living history museums: Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, according to the lawsuit.
It alleges the foundation has a history of retaliation and bias against employees, and says Hill experienced that from interpretive site supervisors.
The lawsuit continues: “Plaintiff Hill and African American employees at the Foundation endure systemic discrimination based on race which permeates every facet of employment, including training, professional development, disparate treatment in work hours and scheduling, advancement opportunities, accommodations to attend religious services, disparate treatment in discipline, harassment and unsafe work environment.
Foundation spokeswoman Tracy Perkins declined to comment on the case, stating it was a personnel matter.
