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A major American IT company has been fined a substantial sum by the U.S. Department of Labor for posting a job advertisement that excluded
non-whites and non-U.S. citizens from applying. The discriminatory ad sparked outrage and an investigation that found the firm had violated federal anti-discrimination laws.
According to the Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), the company posted a job listing in 2018 that stated
applicants must be "White and U.S. citizen" and "No Asians please." The listing was for an engineering position at a facility in Texas.
"The racist and discriminatory language used in this job posting directly violated federal law and core American values," said OFCCP
Director Jenny R. Yang. "No employer should be allowed to exclude applicants based on race, color or citizenship status."
The OFCCP did not identify the company in its statement, referring to it only as "a data analytics firm." However, the agency released details that the firm is a federal contractor with over 2,000 employees and contracts worth over $100 million.
The company has agreed to pay $145,000 in back wages, interest and fines to settle the case, as well as take steps to prevent future discrimination. This includes reviewing policies, providing training, and monitoring its compliance.
In a statement, the firm claimed the discriminatory language was"included in the listing erroneously by a recruiter who has since been terminated." A company spokesperson said it has a"longstanding commitment to affirmative action and equal employment opportunity" and does not condone discrimination.However, the OFCCP Director criticized the firm's "attempts to minimize such egregious discrimination" and said no employer can avoid responsibility by placing blame on a recruiter.
"Discriminatory policies and practices are unacceptable, and the U.S. Department of Labor will work vigilantly to stop unlawful employment
discrimination," Yang stated.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) highlighted the case as "another example of ongoing discrimination in hiring and employment for roles across the tech industry and American workforce." An ACLU spokesperson urged companies to implement stronger oversight and accountability
measures.
With fines and back wages totaling $145,000, the case serves as a sternwarning to employers about the severe consequences of discrimination in job recruitment and hiring processes.
