Spring 1997
Nation's Pulse Taker Accused of Wide Spread Race Discrimination
The Gallup Organization's web page, the premier source of public opinion data in the world, lists Gallup's recent polls and special reports. Topics include:Whites Oppose Formal Apology for SlaveryThe pollster's fascination with race relations and inequality is ironic in light of a recent suit filed in the United States District Court in Chicago. In the Winter of 1994, Alexis Owens-Cole left her long time job in Philadelphia to become the Director of Marketing for Gallup International in Chicago. She was promised "six figures" and the title of Vice President within a year of employment at the company. Despite receiving outstanding reviews from her superiors and consistently meeting her sales goals, Owens-Cole, an African-American female, never received a raise while employed at the company. Her white male co-worker, considered her equal when they were hired, was given more lucrative accounts and quickly earned a $100,000 salary plus commission. When she complained about the disparity, her supervisor told her, "You should be happy and glad you are making a decent living, rather than asking for more money," according to the lawsuit. Soon after her complaint, the company improperly made payroll deductions, falsely disciplined her for not reaching her sales goals, and announced that she had "filed a lawsuit against the company," alienating her from her co-workers. Owens-Cole filed suit in May charging race discrimination and retaliation. She also filed an EEOC complaint for gender discrimination. Perhaps Gallup should poll its own employees! |