Apple Agrees to Record $25 Million Settlement Over Discriminatory Hiring Practices Against US Citizens
Apple Settles $25 Million Lawsuit Over Discriminatory Hiring Practices Against US Citizens
Apple has reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Justice Department following allegations that the company engaged in discriminatory employment practices by favoring immigrant workers over U.S. citizens and green card holders.
The tech giant will pay $25 million as a result of a thorough investigation into its hiring practices, which were found to violate Labor Department processes. These processes allow companies to hire immigrants if there is a shortage of qualified candidates.
The settlement agreement, which can be found here, states that Apple was informed in 2019 about the investigation into its violation of permanent labor certification guidelines for international hiring.
Apple agreed to pay $25 million to settle a Department of Justice case alleging it illegally discriminated against US citizens in hiring https://t.co/g5q93GKDeV
— Bloomberg Technology (@technology) November 9, 2023
The DOJ launched an investigation to determine whether Apple engaged in discriminatory recruitment and hiring practices based on citizenship status, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act’s anti-discrimination provision.
The investigation found “reasonable cause” to believe that Apple had a pattern of discriminatory recruitment practices from 2018 to 2019, favoring temporary visa holders over qualified U.S. applicants.
Apple deviated from standard employment practices by offering temporary visa workers a covert way to apply for and obtain jobs through paper applications, without making the positions public to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Internal employees were also allegedly not made aware of job opportunities, further disadvantaging U.S. applicants.
The federal government claimed that Apple followed procedures that favored temporary visa holders and deterred U.S. applicants, resulting in very few applications from American workers for PERM-related job positions.
Apple denied intentionally violating Department of Labor guidelines and stated that it had unintentionally failed to follow the DOJ standard. The company has implemented measures to ensure compliance with federal labor laws in the future.
Under the settlement agreement, Apple will pay a $6.75 million fine and provide $18.25 million in compensation to affected workers. This settlement represents the largest award recovered by the Department of Justice under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The post Apple Agrees to Record $25 Million Settlement Over Discriminatory Hiring Practices Against US Citizens appeared first on The Western Journal.
How did Apple’s hiring practices violate the Labor Department processes governing the hiring of immigrants?
Have long been accused of various discriminatory practices, ranging from biased algorithms to unequal pay. Apple’s recent settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over discriminatory hiring practices further highlights the need for greater scrutiny of these tech giants and their employment policies.
The allegations against Apple suggest that the company favored immigrant workers over U.S. citizens and green card holders. As part of the settlement agreement, Apple has agreed to pay $25 million, a significant sum that reflects the seriousness of the violations uncovered during the investigation.
The investigation, conducted by the Department of Justice, found that Apple’s hiring practices violated the Labor Department processes that govern the hiring of immigrants. While these processes do allow companies to hire immigrants in cases of a shortage of qualified candidates, Apple went beyond these allowances and systematically discriminated against U.S. applicants.
The settlement agreement, available on the U.S. Justice Department’s website, reveals that Apple was informed of the investigation into its violation of permanent labor certification guidelines for international hiring as early as 2019. This raises questions about the company’s awareness of its discriminatory practices and its failure to rectify them in a timely manner.
The investigation concluded that Apple deviated from standard employment practices by offering temporary visa workers a covert way to apply for and obtain jobs without making the positions public to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Furthermore, internal employees were allegedly not made aware of job opportunities, further disadvantaging U.S. applicants.
The federal government’s claims against Apple suggest a pattern of discriminatory recruitment practices from 2018 to 2019, where the company favored temporary visa holders over qualified U.S. applicants. Apple’s actions not only disadvantaged U.S. workers but also deterred them from applying, resulting in very few applications from American workers for job positions associated with the PERM program.
In response to the allegations, Apple denied intentionally violating Department of Labor guidelines and stated that it had unintentionally failed to follow the DOJ standard. The company has since implemented measures to ensure compliance with federal labor laws in the future, although it remains to be seen how effective these measures will be in preventing similar incidents.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Apple will pay a $6.75 million fine and provide $18.25 million in compensation to affected workers. This represents the largest award recovered by the Department of Justice under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. While the financial penalties are substantial, the true impact lies in the message it sends to other companies that engaging in discriminatory hiring practices will not be tolerated.
Apple’s settlement serves as a reminder of the importance of fair and inclusive hiring practices, not just for Apple but for all companies. Discrimination undermines diversity and perpetuates inequalities in the workplace. It is crucial for companies, especially those with substantial influence and resources like Apple, to take proactive steps to promote equal opportunity and diversity in their workforce.
As tech giants continue to wield significant power and influence, it is essential for both the government and the public to remain vigilant in holding them accountable for their actions. Apple’s settlement should serve as a wake-up call for the entire tech industry and a catalyst for change. Only through continued scrutiny and enforcement can we hope to eradicate discriminatory practices and create a more inclusive and equitable future for all.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...