A Virginia tech company behind a ‘whites only’ job advert has revealed who was responsible for the post after a settlement with the Justice Department was reached.
Arthur Grand Technologies, an information technology services firm, was sued by the federal government over a discriminatory job advertisement that was posted in March 2023.
The listing restricted eligible candidates to ‘only US Born Citizens [white] who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX [Don’t share with candidates],’ according to the Justice Department.
Arthur Grand reached a settlement agreement with the government on Thursday which they deny posting the advertisement and revealed who they believe is to blame.
‘The posted advertisement was generated by a disgruntled recruiter in India and was intended to embarrass the company,’ Arthur Grand said in the agreement.
Arthur Grand Technologies, an information technology services firm, was sued by the federal government over a discriminatory job advertisement that was posted in March 2023
An investigation found that Arthur Grand discriminated based on citizenship status and national origin after a recruiter working for a subsidiary in India posted the advertisement
In May 2023, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section opened an investigation into the posting.
The investigation determined that Arthur Grand discriminated based on citizenship status and national origin after a recruiter working for Arthur Grand’s subsidiary in India posted the advertisement on the job website Indeed.
The advertisement was for a business analyst position with Arthur Grands sales and insurance claims team in Dallas.
The post includes a bolded note that read ‘Only Born US Citizens [White] who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX [Don’t share with candidates].’
The position, the announcement stated, would serve two clients, HTC Global an information technology company based in Troy, Michigan, and Berkshire Hathaway, the multinational holding company based in Omaha, Nebraska.
‘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,’ said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
‘I share the public’s outrage at Arthur Grand’s appalling and discriminatory ban on job candidates based on citizenship status, national origin, color and race.
‘The Justice Department, working with other government agencies, will continue to hold employers accountable when they violate our nation’s federal civil rights laws.’
The job posting went viral and Arthur Grand was slammed on social media for using discriminatory hiring practices.
‘Arthur Grand is a government contractor — federal, state, and local. Doesn’t that add a whole extra layer of obligations not to discriminate,’ said X user Stannie Holt.
LE Murphy said, ‘Bravo to the “junior” staff member being blamed for this. They obviously blew the whistle on this company by posting the job req as-written.’
As part of the Justice Department settlement, Arthur Grand will pay a $7,500 fee to the United States Treasury
As part of the Justice Department settlement, Arthur Grand will pay a $7,500 fee to the United States Treasury.
In a separate agreement with the Labor Department, the technology company pay $31,000 to individuals who filed complaints with its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Arthur Grand has also committed to providing workplace specific training for all company employees involved in recruiting and hiring.
‘Over the past 58 years, OFCCP has protected workers and job seekers from workplace discrimination,’ said Acting Director Michele Hodge of the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
‘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.’