In a news release issued July 19, 2012, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced a $550,000 settlement with Leprino Foods to resolve allegations of systemic hiring discrimination against minorities applying for on-call laborer positions. The news release can be found at: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ofccp/OFCCP20121443.htm.
During a routine scheduled compliance review of the company’s Lemoore West facility, OFCCP compliance officers determined that the use of the WorkKeys exam had adverse impact against African-American, Asian, and Hispanic job applicants. The OFCCP further maintained that the exam tested applicants’ skills in areas that were not critical to entry-level tasks performed by on-call laborers.
Leprino Foods has agreed to the terms of the Consent Decree which are that they will pay $550,000 in back wages, interest, and benefits to 253 minority applicants who were denied employment between January 2005 and October 2006, hire 13 of the original class members, discontinue the use of the WorkKeys test, undertake extensive self-monitoring, and correct any discriminatory practices.
Please contact us by calling (732) 446-2529 or sending us an e-mail at glennbarlett@gbcs.net if you are interested in discussing the OFCCP’s settlement with Leprino Foods.