A Virginia-based business that was penalized by the Department of Justice for posting a discriminatory job advertisement will now have to pay a $7,500 civil fine.
The DOJ claims that in March 2023, Ashburn, Virginia-based Arthur Grand Technologies Inc., a provider of information technology services, put up an advertisement for a business analyst position.
The job advertising, which stated, “Only US Born Citizens [White] who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX [Don’t share with candidates],” was shared on a public internet hiring platform.
The Labor Department and DOJ opened investigations as a result of the post. The DOJ’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) and the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) both began operations in May 2023.
“Arthur Grand Technologies vehemently denies any guilt or wrongdoing in relation to the discriminatory job posting that appeared in March 2023,” Arthur Grand Technologies CEO Sheik Rahmathullah stated.
“This unauthorized posting was made by an upset employee on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) from their personal email address and account. Upon discovering this, we took immediate and decisive action to ensure that this type of incident will never happen again, including the immediate termination of the responsible employee.”
Separate settlements with the DOJ and Labor Department were announced by the Justice Department on Thursday.
The DOJ’s settlement with the business ends the agency’s finding that Arthur Grand posted a discriminatory job advertisement in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Read Also: Are You Saving More in Your 401(k) Without Knowing It? Here’s Why
Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Kristin Clarke stated in a press release: “It is shameful that employers in the 21st century still use ‘Whites only’ and ‘only US born’ job postings to lock out otherwise eligible job candidates of color.”
“The Justice Department, working with other government agencies, will continue to hold employers accountable when they violate our nation’s federal civil rights laws,” Clarke continued.
Arthur Grand will also have to “train its personnel on the INA’s requirements, revise its employment policies, and be subject to departmental monitoring,” as stated in the DOJ press release.
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) of the Department of Labor, acting director Michele Hodge, declared, “Companies like Arthur Grand, that accept federal contracts, cannot have a ‘Whites only’ hiring process.”
Arthur Grand’s CEO, Sheik Rahmathullah, entered a conciliation deal with the Labor Department that includes payment to those who complained to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).
“Arthur Grand Technologies is proud to be a minority-owned company,” and “These agreements should not be construed as an admission of guilt or wrongdoing by Arthur Grand Technologies,” Rahmathullah further added. We sincerely apologize for any harm caused by this incident and are committed to making meaningful changes to maintain the trust and confidence of our community and stakeholders.”
