NBC LOS ANGELES – Kaiser Hospital Riverside is investigating what appears to be a racist display directed at several African-American employees who work in the hospital’s IT Department.

The staffers said they work in an area that is restricted to employees only so when Xavier Fields arrived for work he was shocked to find a doll with a racial slur across its chest hanging from a post near his work station.

“It’s somebody who works within. It’s a locked area. You don’t go back there,” Fields said.

The doll had its face painted black and was dangling from a rope around its neck.

“You’re not sure what to think. I got a supervisor and I let them know what’s going on,” said colleague Tyree Hale.

The employees said they did not see signs that their complaint launched an immediate investigation.

They gave the doll to a manager and said they were so stunned – even scared –they didn’t file a police report, but left it to the hospital to handle.

Kaiser issued a statement which read: “We are moving to investigate the matter and will take appropriate action. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination in our workplace and will take all appropriate measures to address the full scope of this situation.”

Still, the workers say they’re not wholly confident in the investigation.

“I’m not for sure,” said Hale. “I went to the boss and let them know what was going on.”

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