IHOP is facing a lawsuit from a group of Black employees who were allegedly subjected to years of racism at a Florida location.

IHOP employees Margaret Bennett, Stephanie Davis, Carline Hunter and cook Jeffrey Wright raised allegations against their former shift manager Brenda Bertetchuk, who is white. According to Yahoo News, the four employees said they faced “an atmosphere of intimidation, ridicule and humiliation” at the IHOP location in Pompano Beach, Florida.

What were the allegations raised in the lawsuit against the Florida IHOP?

Per the lawsuit, Bertetchuk repeatedly made racist remarks, including in 2023 when she allegedly told the employees, “I thought you people liked it burned.”

The former manager also referenced slavery while speaking to Black employees who worked on Juneteenth, the complaint states.

“Why [are] you all at work today if it’s the day my people let your people free?” Bertetchuk said, per the lawsuit.

She also told the employees that she is their “master” and said “If it’s not white, then it’s not right,” the lawsuit states. Bertetchuk continued to make racial remarks when she threatened to bring “chicken and watermelons” to the employees for Labor Day, the complaint adds. The series of allegations also stated that Bertetchuk wore a hat resembling a monkey and mimicked a whip sound while making racist comments.

Wright, who worked as a cook at the IHOP, added that the manager touched him inappropriately and made sexual remarks. The employees said management ignored their complaints and the situation continued to worsen at the restaurant.

Bertetchuk retaliated when she turned off the air conditioning in the kitchen and reduced their hours, the complaint states. As the case is now pending, the employees are seeking damages for lost wages and emotional distress, as well as punitive damages and legal costs.