Lauren Footman, Delaware County DEI Director, Fired Following Discrimination Allegations

Delaware County’s first diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, Lauren Footman, has been fired after accusing her boss, Chief Administrative Officer Marc Woolley, of racial discrimination. Footman filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in November alleging that Woolley had treated her and other Black women employees unfairly and retaliated against her for filing an internal complaint.

Despite an internal investigation clearing Woolley of discrimination allegations, Footman refused to sign a severance agreement in exchange for dropping her complaint. County spokesperson Adrienne Marofsky stated that Footman’s termination was not related to her EEOC complaint and emphasized the county’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Footman’s allegations against Woolley included claims of favoritism toward white employees, inappropriate comments about race and gender, and lack of support for marginalized groups. This incident highlights the challenges faced by DEI officers amid increasing opposition to diversity initiatives, as evidenced by recent bans on such programs in Texas and Florida.

Woolley has faced controversy in previous roles, including lawsuits filed by former employees during his time at the Philadelphia Housing Authority. Despite these allegations, Woolley maintains his innocence and is now back in a deputy executive director role in Delaware County. This case sheds light on the complexities and tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the workplace.

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