A startup in the data analytics field recently settled a suit filed against it regarding its discriminatory hiring practices. Specifically, the company was accused of discriminating against Asian applicants. If New York workers suffer race discrimination in the workplace, they may have the right to legal recourse.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, which brought charges against the technology company, Asian applicants were barred from employment during a period spanning 18 months starting in Jan. 2010. The company routinely got rid of Asian applicants in its telephone interview and screenings of resumes. This was true even when the Asian workers had the same qualifications as Caucasian workers for the company’s engineering positions.
As part of the settlement, the technology firm must pay over $1.6 million in damages, including back pay. In addition, it has to hire eight Asian job applicants for two types of engineering positions. The settlement was approved on a recent Friday. The company, which is a federal contractor, did not admit doing anything wrong and denied the allegations. However, the company said it was willing to settle the matter without admitting any liability to stay focused on its work.
Race discrimination is illegal in New York and all other states, but some companies still try to hire workers according to their own discriminatory standards. In these situations, those from the affected class have the right to seek relief through the civil justice system. An understanding of what facts have to be proved in such a case is necessary in order to prevail.
Source: Forbes, “Palantir Pays $1.6 Million To Settle Hiring Discrimination Lawsuit With Department Of Labor“, Ryan Mac, April 25, 2017
