'If It's Not White, It's Not Right': Ihop Manager Who Calls Herself 'Master' Sued Over Racial Abuse of Black Employees

Four Black employees of an IHOP restaurant in Pompano Beach, Florida, have sued the restaurant chain, its franchisee and a former shift manager, alleging they were subjected to repeated racist harassment and retaliation after complaining about the treatment.

The plaintiffs, servers Margaret Bennett, 45, Stephanie Davis, 51, and Carline Hunter, 49, and cook Jeffrey Wright, 51, accuse former manager Brenda Bertetchuk of creating what their complaint describes as an 'atmosphere of intimidation, ridicule and humiliation'.

The lawsuit names IHOP Restaurants, LLC, Sunshine Restaurant Merger Sub, LLC and Bertetchuk as defendants. It was initially filed in Broward County Circuit Court on 29 June before being transferred to the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on 26 August. The federal case is proceeding as a civil rights action under Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

Reports say the complaint seeks damages exceeding $50,000 (£37,000), in addition to interest, legal costs and attorneys' fees.

Slavery and Juneteenth Comments Alleged

The allegations include a series of remarks Bertetchuk allegedly made during 2023.

According to the complaint, she responded after a Black customer returned an overcooked omelette by saying: 'I thought you people liked it burned.' The plaintiffs allege she made similar comments when other Black customers returned overcooked food.

The lawsuit also claims Bertetchuk made remarks about slavery when Black employees arrived for work on Juneteenth.

'Why [are] you all at work today if it's the day my people let your people free?' she allegedly asked.

She allegedly continued: 'My people were still selling you guys so shut up and do your job.'

The workers further claim Bertetchuk wore a hat depicting a monkey while around Black employees and told them, 'If it's not white, then it's not right.'

She allegedly referred to herself as 'the master', spoke about having 'whips' and mimicked the sound of a whip cracking. The complaint also accuses her of making other racially offensive remarks, including allegedly threatening to bring Black workers 'chicken and watermelons' for Labor Day.

Wright separately alleges that Bertetchuk made repeated sexualised comments about him during 2023 and part of 2024.

Employees Claim Retaliation After Complaints

The four workers say they repeatedly complained to management and human resources about the alleged conduct. Rather than seeing the situation improve, they claim they faced retaliation.

The complaint alleges Bertetchuk 'purposefully turned off' the kitchen's air conditioning after learning of complaints against her, creating 'unsafe, intolerable and excessively hot working conditions'. The workers also claim they faced increased scrutiny, less favourable shifts and reduced hours.

Bennett and Wright were ultimately dismissed, according to the lawsuit, while Davis and Hunter allege their hours were substantially reduced.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for alleged lost wages, benefits, emotional distress, humiliation and other damages. They also accuse IHOP of being 'recklessly indifferent' to their federally-protected rights and are seeking punitive damages.

Bertetchuk said she left IHOP about three years ago and remembered the four plaintiffs, but declined to discuss the case because she was at work. IHOP and Sunshine Restaurant Merger Sub did not respond to requests for comment.

The allegations have not been proven in court and the defendants have yet to establish their position on the claims.