The DOJ announced that 10 additional employers have agreed to pay civil penalties for posting job advertisements that discriminated against non-U.S. citizens on Georgia Institute of Technology’s (Georgia Tech) job recruitment platform. Since June 2022, the DOJ has secured over $1.6 million from a total of 30 employers, who agreed to pay civil penalties for similar discriminatory job posts.
According to court documents, a Georgia Tech student filed a discrimination complaint with the Civil Rights Division after noticing an internship opportunity was open to U.S. citizens only, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act’s (INA). The INA generally prohibits hiring or recruitment discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin. Upon investigation of the Georgia Tech student’s complaint, it was discovered that other employers also posted similar discriminatory job posts that restricted non-citizens from applying.
In addition to paying civil penalties, employers have agreed to training on the INA’s anti-discrimination provisions. Some well-known employers include Procter & Gamble and Honeywell International Inc., who agreed to pay $8,930 and $191,995, respectively. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division commented that “[t]hese settlements should make clear our commitment to enforcing federal civil rights laws to ensure that all applicants have a fair and equal chance to compete for jobs.”
The attorneys at Chilivis Grubman assist businesses of all types and sizes in connection with Labor & Employment matters, including labor and employment compliance, response to discrimination claims, and resulting civil litigation. If you need assistance with such a matter, please contact us today.