HOUSTON — Sysco is facing a claim from a former worker alleging racial discrimination.
Chiquanda Alston filed a complaint Dec. 28, 2021, in Harris County District Court against Sysco Shared Business Services alleging discrimination.
According to her complaint, Alston worked for Sysco for eight years and was placed in an accounting role due to her previous team being disbanded because of COVID-19. She claims that in her new role, she was expected to perform her normal job functions as well as her previous job duties.
She further claims she was also given additional tasks without any training and in April of 2020, was told her position was being eliminated and was given a choice of termination or a demotion and salary cut. Alston alleges she was falsely accused of missing deadlines, threatened with termination instead of receiving the "progressive disciplinary steps."
She also alleges she was denied FMLA due to panic attacks and anxiety despite having all the proper documentation and was wrongfully terminated on Nov. 19, 2020. Alston claims the defendant's actions constitute racial discrimination.
Alston seeks monetary relief between $200,000 and $1 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Ellen Sprovach of Kennard Law in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-83463