Baldor Electric Co. in Fort Smith will pay $2 million to settle allegations of discrimination stemming from the company’s application screening process, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
OFCCP investigators determined that the process violated Executive Order 11246 by creating a disparate impact on women and minorities. As a result, 795 qualified women, African-Americans and job seekers of Asian and Hispanic descent were denied the opportunity to advance to the interview stage when applying for production and laborer positions, according to a news release from the DOL.
Baldor will be required to pay a total of $2 million in back wages and interest to the affected individuals and will make at least 50 job offers to members of the original class as positions become available.
The company also has agreed to undertake extensive self-monitoring measures to ensure that all hiring practices fully comply with the law, including record-keeping requirements.
But Baldor Spokeswoman Tracy Long told our partners at TheCityWire.com the DOL review and findings were based only on statistical analysis.
“It was pure modeling. ... We never had any complaints from this group. There were no complaints,” Long said Monday. “I think most folks in our area know that Baldor has always been committed to doing the right thing, for our communities and the people who work for us.” Click here to read more.