On February 25, 2016, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced a lawsuit filed against B&H Foto & Electronics Corp., a federal contractor with supply contracts with the General Services Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The news release can be found at: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/20160225-2.
The OFCCP is alleging that B&H Foto systematically discriminated against Hispanic employees and female, Black, and Asian applicants at its Brooklyn Navy Yard warehouse. During a Compliance Review, the OFCCP alleges to have found that B&H Foto exclusively hired Hispanic men into its entry-level laborer job group and promoted and compensated Hispanic employees at much lower rates than White employee. The OFCCP is alleging that this lead to lower pay, fewer opportunities to advance, and a near-total exclusion of Hispanic employees in higher-level clerical, managerial, and supervisory positions. The OFCCP is also claiming that Hispanic employees were subjected to racist remarks, degrading comments, and harassment at the worksite.
In addition to the hiring, promotion, and compensation discrimination, the OFCCP alleges that Hispanic employees were relegated to separate unsanitary and often inoperable restrooms and that females were not provided designated restrooms and changing facilities. The OFCCP is seeking complete relief for the affected class. Further, the OFCCP requests that if B&H Foto fails to provide relief as ordered, all its government contracts, valued in excess of $46 million, be cancelled and that it be debarred from entering into future federal contracts.
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 lawsuit against B&H Foto & Electronics Corp.