A Lakewood fast-food worker says a shift at Dave's Hot Chicken on Detroit Avenue ended with a racial slur and then vanished work hours, and he is taking his story public. In a Facebook post shared today, the employee says he was allowed to go home early after he complained, then discovered he was left off the schedule for the week and believes that move was retaliation.
What the post says
According to The Cleveland,Ohio Remembrance Page, the worker wrote that a coworker used the n-word in the workplace. When he objected, a manager allegedly questioned why he felt disrespected because the coworker is reportedly "half black." The post quotes the manager as saying, "that's how the other worker is," and says the employee then was not scheduled for the week of July 13-19. The author capped the post by asking readers what they would do in the same spot.
Location and chain context
The Lakewood restaurant is listed by the chain at 15012 Detroit Ave, according to Dave's Hot Chicken. Similar complaints and confrontations involving alleged racist language at other Dave's locations have circulated online in recent years, including a 2024 viral parking-lot incident reported by Atlanta Black Star and customer reviews posted on sites such as Birdeye.
Workplace protections and next steps
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says employers are barred from retaliating against workers who complain about discrimination, and notes that materially adverse actions, such as sudden schedule changes, can support a retaliation claim. In Ohio, employees can also file a complaint with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission or consult the civil-rights guidance provided by the Ohio Attorney General for referral and enforcement information.
Community response
The Facebook post invited the public to weigh in, and the comments range from sympathy for the worker to calls for him to file formal complaints with civil-rights agencies. Dave's has a corporate feedback page for both customer visits and staff concerns, and formal discrimination or retaliation claims can also be taken directly to state or federal authorities for investigation.
