White IHOP manager allegedly ‘invoked’ slavery and dubbed herself as ‘master’ of Black employees: ‘My people were still selling you’

A former IHOP manager had been accused of targeting four Black employees with hostile, discriminatory, and racist behavior at the restaurant chain’s Florida store in a federal lawsuit. The lawsuit identified manager Brenda Bertetchuk and a server named Eric, both white, as the accused.

In a lawsuit obtained by the Atlanta Black Star, the complaints reportedly made references to slavery and Juneteenth, a date that celebrates the abolition of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865. The plaintiffs, Jeffrey Wright, Stephanie Davis, Margaret Bennett, and Carline Hunter, who were employed at IHOP’s locations in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach for over 10 years, claimed that Bertetchuk and Eric fostered an “atmosphere of intimidation, ridicule, and humiliation” through racist and demeaning comments.

The lawsuit alleged that IHOP management and Bertetchuk had “unlawfully retaliated” when the four Black employees lodged complaints over the racism and harassment they purportedly endured. The hostile environment and racism reportedly resulted in the plaintiffs being sacked from their jobs.

IHOP manager claimed she had whips for Black employees

According to the lawsuit, the racism began as early as 2022 at IHOP’s Fort Lauderdale location. Eric, the white male server, allegedly spewed offensive remarks directed at Bennett and other coworkers frequently. “F****** n****** getting on my nerve,” Eric would say, per the lawsuit. A general manager reportedly reprimanded Eric for his racist comments. However, his racist tirade on serving Black customers continued into 2023.

Bertetchuk allegedly made similar racist comments as well. The former manager repeatedly told the four employees, “I thought you people like it burned,” whenever a Black customer complained and returned overcooked food.

During Juneteenth in 2023, however, Bertetchuk made slavery comments to three Black employees at the IHOP in Pompano Beach. According to the lawsuit, Bertetchuk told the employees, “Why you all at work today if it’s the day my people let your people free?” Allegedly, Bertetchuk “invoked slavery” at the workplace due to her role as the supervisor, dubbed herself their “master,” and claimed she had “whips” a month after.

Management allegedly retaliated systematically

The lawsuit stated that Bertetchuk told a Black employee that “my people were still selling you guys so shut up and do your job.” Aside from her alleged “racially offensive tirade” that continued throughout her employment, Bertetchuk was also accused of sexual misconduct against Wright in 2023 and 2024, and physical aggression directed at Black employees.

IHOP management reportedly condoned the racism and harassment and supposedly contributed to creating “a racially hostile and demeaning environment” for its employees. In response to their repeated complaints, the company allegedly retaliated systematically by changing their working conditions, such as making work more difficult for the Black employees and creating an unsafe working environment, like refusing to fix the air conditioning despite sweltering heat.

Due to the systematic retaliation, racism, and harassment, the plaintiffs claimed they suffered emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of income and benefits. The lawsuit, filed on July 24, named IHOP, Sunshine Restaurant Merger Sub, LLC, and Bertetchuk as the defendants. The plaintiffs are now seeking compensatory damages.

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