- Arthur Grand Technologies posted a ‘whites only’ vacancy in March 2023
- The tech company blamed a disgruntled employee for the discriminatory ad
- They will pay a fine of $7,500 and $31,000 to those who filed complaints
A Virginia tech company behind a “whites only” job posting has revealed who was responsible for the post after reaching a settlement with the Justice Department.
Arthur Grand Technologies, an information technology services company, was sued by the federal government over a discriminatory job posting posted in March 2023.
The list limited eligible candidates to ‘US born citizens only’ [white] that are local within 60 miles of Dallas, TX [Don’t share with candidates]’, the Ministry of Justice said.
Arthur Grand reached a settlement agreement with the government on Thursday, in which they deny running the ad and revealed who they believe is to blame.
“The advertisement placed was generated by a disgruntled recruiter in India and was intended to embarrass the company,” Arthur Grand said in the agreement.
In May 2023, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Worker Rights Division opened an investigation into the post.
The investigation found that Arthur Grand discriminated on the basis of citizenship and national origin after a recruiter working for Arthur Grand’s subsidiary in India posted the advertisement on the job site Indeed.
The advertisement was for a business analyst position with Arthur Grand’s sales and insurance claims team in Dallas.
The message contains a bold note that reads ‘Only Born US Citizens’ [White] that are local within 60 miles of Dallas, TX [Don’t share with candidates].’
The position, the announcement said, would serve two customers: HTC Global, an information technology company based in Troy, Michigan, and Berkshire Hathaway, the multinational holding company based in Omaha, Nebraska.
“It’s shameful that in the 21st century we continue to see employers use ‘white only’ and ‘US born only’ job postings to exclude otherwise eligible candidates of color,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Ministry of Justice. Department of Law.
“I share the public’s outrage at Arthur Grand’s abhorrent and discriminatory ban on job applicants based on citizenship, national origin, color and race.
“The Department of Justice, 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 criticized 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,” says X user Stannie Holt.
LE Murphy said: ‘Bravo to the “junior” staff member being blamed for this. They have clearly pilloried this company by posting the vacancy as written.”
As part of the settlement with the Department of Justice, Arthur Grand will pay $7,500 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury Department.
In a separate agreement with the Labor Department, the tech company will pay $31,000 to individuals who filed complaints with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Arthur Grand has also committed to offering workplace-specific training to all company employees involved in recruitment and selection.
“For the past 58 years, OFCCP has protected workers and job seekers from discrimination in the workplace,” 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 ad.
“Companies like Arthur Grand that accept federal contracts cannot have a ‘whites only’ hiring process.”