MAUMEE, Ohio — "'You belong at UPS'" is what the shipping company calls its rallying cry, promising a diverse and inclusive workplace.
But one employee at Maumee's UPS Distribution Center, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, said his experience is completely different.
"We found a noose in my work area," he told WTOL 11.
The long-time UPS employee said on the morning of May 2 of this year, he walked into work and found a noose hanging in his workspace, dangling from the back of a truck.
"You would think in Ohio these kinds of things wouldn't happen in this day and age," he said. "It was appalling, but at the same time it wasn't shocking given the history of what's happened here at the hub in Maumee."
He claimed he worked at UPS in 2019 when 19 workers filed a lawsuit in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas against the same distribution center.
"The defendants have maintained a hostile work environment through these employment decisions, as well as by tolerating, and failing to remedy, known racist comments and conduct," the lawsuit alleged.
It goes on to allege such conduct involved "hanging nooses above the work station of an African American employee, distributing pictures of nooses, displaying a cellphone video hangman game with an African-American Effigy, a gorilla face, and target illustrations, posing a larger monkey doll dressed as a UPS employee at the top of the ladder near the work stations of African American employees."
The lawsuit also alleged comments such as using the N-word near African Americans and referring to a neighborhood with a racial slur "while refusing to deliver package there."
The case was later dismissed in federal court and resolved without the court's involvement.
"The lawsuit was resolved years ago, and the facility has new leadership," a UPS spokesperson said.
The anonymous employee WTOL 11 spoke with said at the time that UPS did diversify its leadership team. But he claims it didn't last.
"They brought Black managers in to try to pacify us, kind of. And honestly, I think they ran them off," he said. "Now they brought the old regime back, the regime that was here during the old incidents, and now things are starting to happen again."
The company's sign outside the Maumee facility reads "Not in Our House. It's a slogan UPS says means it does not tolerate inappropriate behavior.
UPS declined an on-camera interview and provided the following written statement:
"UPS is committed to maintaining a workplace environment that is respectful, inclusive, and free of harassment and discrimination. Upon learning of these allegations, we completed a prompt and thorough investigation, and took swift and decisive corrective action, terminating the employment of the person who was responsible."
But the anonymous employee believes it isn't enough.
"We already do all these diversity initiatives and I've heard they were told we don't care about that. I know you all think that's a priority, but our priority is production," he said.
He told WTOL 11 that he's seen racist acts at the Maumee facility for years.
"We had things happen in feeders, we've had employees called the N-word, we've just had a lot of racial issues," he said. "Some days it's just tough to sleep because you know you have to go back in because you don't know what's going to happen, or the atmosphere."
He believes the culture at the Maumee hub has normalized this kind of behavior.
"The first time something like this happens, it's a mistake," he said. "But things keep happening over and over again. What is it if it's not the culture they're breeding?"
If this is the culture inside Maumee's distribution center, why is he still there?
"Honestly, it's all I have. I don't have a degree, so I'm kind of stuck in this environment and you kind of feel helpless," he said. "At UPS, you make pretty good money. There's nowhere else where I could make this kind of money without a degree or education, so there's nowhere for me to go."
Toledo City Council member Cerssandra McPherson, who brought this story to WTOL 11's attention, says she was shocked to hear the allegation, but not surprised.
She says it needs to be taught that racism will not be tolerated.
If you or someone you know has experienced workplace intimidation or racism, you can email WTOL 11 at news@wtol.com.