04-11-2024
Lauren Footman was Delaware County's first diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, beginning her work in April 2022. She has filed a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint alleging Chief Administrative Officer Marc Woolley treated her and other Black female employees unfairly. Footman filed an internal complaint first and says Woolley retaliated against her after that complaint. She filed the internal complaint while on medical leave for anxiety and depression from Woolley's conduct. Footman learned the county was firing her when returning from leave. The county offered her twelve weeks of severance, provided she withdrew her EEOC complaint.
As DEI head, the county charged Footman with working toward the county's workforce and vendors reflecting the county's demographics, which are 67% white, 24% Black, and 7% Asian. She provides examples of discriminatory treatment in her complaint, pointing to a couple of incidents. In one situation, Footman said she and a white top county official experienced similar issues, but Woolley arranged a meeting for the official because she was "an attractive white woman." When a white county official touched Footman's hair without asking, Woolley did not support Footman when he learned about it. Footman also alleges Woolley used progressive discipline for a white employee but not a Black female employee. Footman states she tried to institute gender-neutral bathrooms in the office, and Woolley responded that trans people should use the bathrooms that he tells them to use. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Woolley had been involved with various controversies while holding other local government jobs.
An independent investigation by the Rudolph Clarke law firm found Woolley, who is Black, “does not discriminate against African-American women.” The county denies Footman's termination is related to her EEOC complaint, stating, "We do not tolerate or support hate and are actively working to ensure our DEI office and our next DEI office will have the impact that is needed here in Delaware County."