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A tech company based out of Virginia has settled a lawsuit launched by the Department of Justice after posting a job that said “whites only” could apply.
Arthur Grand Technologies Inc., a federal contractor, has agreed to pay $7,500 in civil penalties and $31,000 in total to 31 individuals who filed complaints regarding the job posting. The controversial listing was for a Salesforce business analyst and insurance claims position in Dallas and limited applicants to “only US Born Citizens [white] who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX [Don’t share with candidates].”
In a statement, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division said, “It is shameful that in the 21st century, we continue to see employers using ‘whites only’ and ‘only US born’ job postings to lock out otherwise eligible job candidates of color.” Michele Hodge, acting director of the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, said, “We are committed to holding federal contractors accountable for outrageous discriminatory practices like this advertisement. Companies like Arthur Grand, that accept federal contracts cannot have a ‘whites only’ hiring process.”
Arthur Grand Technologies claimed the posting was unauthorized and made by an employee of its subsidiary in India. Nevertheless, the Justice Department concluded the listing violated the Immigration and Nationality Act, while the Labor Department cited breaches of an executive order prohibiting discrimination by federal contractors based on race, national origin, and other protected characteristics.
Beyond the financial penalties, Arthur Grand Technologies will undergo monitoring to ensure compliance with anti-discrimination laws and is required to train employees on the Immigration and Nationality Act’s requirements and revise its employment policies to prevent future violations.
