Volvo told Romanian worker in NC to ‘become more Swedish’ before firing him, suit says
A former employee at Volvo was left out of business talks and turned down for a promotion before he was fired — all because he’s not Swedish, according to court documents.
Now Luke Diventi, who was born in Romania, is suing Volvo Group North America LLC for job discrimination. Volvo Group is the trucking arm of its Swedish-based parent company AB Volvo.
According to the complaint, Diventi worked for Volvo Group at its headquarters in Greensboro for seven years as a lead project manager, where he “diligently” performed his job duties “at or above the level” of other employees.
“The only suggestion for improvement was to become more Swedish in his interactions with coworkers,” the lawsuit states.
Counsel for both parties and a spokesperson for Volvo Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.
Attorneys for Diventi said in the complaint that Volvo habitually gave preferential treatment to its Swedish-born workers in Greensboro, including speaking in Swedish in open group meetings and during business discussions.
Social activities among colleagues who weren’t Swedish were also “reduced,” the lawsuit states.
Diventi began complaining about the special treatment to his manager in mid-2018, according to the complaint.
Volvo Group reportedly “escalated its efforts to impede his performance” in response.
They denied his request to go on a business trip to Volvo’s headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, Diventi’s attorneys said, and offered it instead to a Swedish employee.
Shortly thereafter, Diventi applied for a promotion and was interviewed but ultimately turned down, the lawsuit states. A Swedish employee subsequently received it.
Diventi eventually told his manager in October 2018 that he would be taking his complaints of discrimination to upper-level managers. He was put on administrative leave the next day, the lawsuit states.
Attorneys for Diventi said Volvo Group was investigating allegations of harassment against him, but he was denied access to the evidence and left unable to defend himself.
He was fired in November and a person from Sweden took over his job duties, according to the complaint.
Diventi makes claims for violations of the Civil Rights Act and is seeking at least $25,000 in damages.
