DOJ Levies Fine on Virginia Tech Firm for Racially Discriminatory Ad
Arthur Grand Technologies Inc., a Virginia-based information technology services firm, will pay a civil penalty of $7,500 after a discriminatory job advertisement emerged, attracting the Department of Justice's (DOJ) attention. The posting, which surfaced in March of 2023 for a business analyst role, blatantly stated a preference for "Only U.S. Born Citizens [white]," drawing severe criticism and triggering federal investigations.
Job Posting Spurs Federal Investigations
Soon after the job ad was posted online, visible to the public and specifying candidates to be white and within a specific geographic radius from Dallas, Texas, the DOJ, along with the Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), commenced thorough investigations into the matter. The OFCCP initiated their probe into the troubling job listing in April 2023, followed by the DOJ's Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) of the Civil Rights Division beginning their inquiry in May.
Arthur Grand Technologies' Unwavering Denial
Despite the growing controversy, Arthur Grand Technologies' Chief Executive Officer, Sheik Rahmathullah, vehemently denied any intentional discrimination or guilt. The CEO claimed the act was carried out by an unhappy employee undergoing a Performance Improvement Plan who used their personal email to post the job ad without authorization. Arthur Grand Technologies acted promptly, terminating the employee and committing to prevent such incidents.
Settlements and Agreements Detailed
A notable aspect of this case is the company's settlement with two prominent entities- the DOJ and the Labor Department. The DOJ's agreement concluded that the company had violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) through its discriminatory ad posting. In addition to the financial penalty, Arthur Grand must deliver INA training to its staff, revamp employment policies, and submit to departmental oversight.
Civil Rights Division and OFCCP Respond
Kristin Clarke, the Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, expressed her dismay over employers' persistence in crafting racially exclusive job advertisements, emphasizing the department's ongoing role in enforcing federal civil rights laws. Concurrently, Michele Hodge, the acting director of the OFCCP, poignantly addressed the issue, stating that federal contractors like Arthur Grand are prohibited from engaging in racially discriminatory hiring practices.
Commitments to Change and Compliance
As the fallout from the March 2023 job posting incident continues, Arthur Grand Technologies is facing financial repercussions and is set to pay damages to complainants under the terms of the conciliation agreement with the Labor Department. CEO Rahmathullah reiterates that the minority-owned company does not admit wrongdoing while expressing deep regret for the harm caused and affirming the organization's commitment to making meaningful changes.
Arthur Grand Technologies Moving Forward
Under the weight of the civil penalty and the umbrella of the recent settlement agreements, Arthur Grand Technologies has embarked on a path toward mending its relationship with society and its clientele. The firm's leadership assures stakeholders of their dedication to upholding trust and confidence. With revised policies and new training initiatives, the company pledges to promote an equitable employment environment and support the values it claims to have been standing for since its inception.
