Nearly 400
minority applicants to receive back wages as company reviews hiring practices
DULLES, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that
federal construction contractor M.C. Dean Inc. has settled allegations that it
failed to provide equal employment opportunity to 381 African American,
Hispanic and Asian American workers who applied for jobs at the company's
Dulles headquarters. A review by the department's Office of Federal Contract
Compliance Programs determined that the contractor used a set of selection procedures,
including invalid tests, which unfairly kept qualified minority candidates from
securing jobs as apprentices and electricians.
"Our
nation was built on the principles of fair play and equal opportunity, and
artificial barriers that keep workers from securing good jobs violate those
principles," said OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu. "I am pleased that
this settlement will provide remedies to the affected workers and that M.C.
Dean has agreed to invest significant resources to improve its hiring practices
so that this never happens again."
Under
the terms of the agreement, M.C. Dean will pay $875,000 in back wages and
interest to 272 African American, 98 Hispanic and 11 Asian American job
applicants who were denied employment in 2010. The contractor will also extend
39 job offers to the class members as opportunities become available.
Additionally, M.C. Dean has agreed to undertake extensive self-monitoring
measures and personnel training to ensure that all of its employment practices
fully comply with Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors
and subcontractors from discriminating in employment on the bases of race,
color and national origin.
M.C.
Dean is a construction, design-build and systems integration corporation with
more than 30 offices worldwide. Since 2006, the company has held more than $600
million in contracts with federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of
Defense.
In
addition to Executive Order 11246, OFCCP enforces Section 503 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment
Assistance Act of 1974. These three laws require those who do business with the
federal government, contractors and subcontractors, to follow the fair and
reasonable standard that they not discriminate in employment on the basis of
sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or status as a
protected veteran. For more information, please call OFCCP's toll-free helpline
at 800-397-6251 or visit
Source:
Department
of Labor
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