A Black man has filed a federal lawsuit after facing racist harassment and retaliation while working at a Chick-fil-A franchise in Idaho. The shocking claims add to ongoing conversations about racism in the workplace.
Former Chick-fil-A Employee Claims Racist Harassment by Management and Coworker
Thomas Wade, who worked as a cook at the Ammon, Idaho, location in December 2022, has officially filed a federal lawsuit alleging employment discrimination. According to Atlanta Black Star, Wade says he was subjected to repeated racist comments from coworkers, including being called an “ape” and compared to a slave.
The disturbing behavior allegedly began after Wade applied to Chick-fil-A’s leadership development program and was passed over for a white male colleague. He claims he was immediately targeted by members of the Ibarra family, who ran the “back of house” crew.One specific incident in March 2023 escalated when Isaiah Ibarra, son of the restaurant’s manager Eric Ibarra, allegedly yelled: “Shut up ape, before I put you in a cage.”
Wade responded by saying he would report the comment. Isaiah reportedly replied:
“You’re a monkey. My parents own this place. You can’t do nothing.”
Management Allegedly Ignored Multiple Reports of Racism
Wade claims he immediately brought the incident to Eric Ibarra, but his concerns were brushed off. He then went to Back of House Director Kaeli Barns and General Manager Jessica Lainhart. While Lainhart reportedly apologized, no action was taken to discipline Isaiah or address the hostile environment.
After taking two mental health days due to the emotional toll, Wade returned only to face even more hostility. He says he made between 25 to 30 complaints to upper-level management.
Instead of being protected, Wade was allegedly punished for speaking out. In October 2023, he was fired. According to the lawsuit, Barnes told Wade she “wasn’t scared of him” just before the termination took place.
Franchise Under Fire: What the Lawsuit Alleges</h2>
The lawsuit makes it clear: Wade believes he was terminated in retaliation for exposing a toxic, racist workplace culture. According to the filing, Chick-fil-A leadership failed to address any of the complaints in a meaningful way.
The chain has faced previous criticism over its franchise model, which allows owners wide discretion over hiring and discipline. The compny released a statemet in response to the lawsuit:
“This matter involves a franchisee, not Chick-fil-A, Inc. Franchisees are independent operators responsible for all employment decisions in their restaurants. Chick-fil-A, Inc. is not involved in or aware of their employment matters.”
