Apple settles hiring discrimination allegations for $25M

Apple discrimination settlement overview: 

• Who: Apple agreed to a $25 million discrimination settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division Immigrant and Employee Rights Section. 
• Why: Apple was determined to have discriminated in its hiring practices based upon immigration status, the DOJ said.
• Where: The Apple settlement was announced by the DOJ’s Washington, D.C., office.

Apple agreed to a $25 million discrimination settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division Immigrant and Employee Rights Section after the company was accused of discriminating during the hiring process against potential employees based upon immigration status.

The fine was the largest award that the DOJ has recovered under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the DOJ said.

The $25 million includes back pay and civil penalties. That involves $6.75 million in civil penalties along with creating a $18.25 million back pay fund for eligible discrimination victims.

“Creating unlawful barriers that make it harder for someone to seek a job because of their citizenship status will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This resolution reflects the Civil Rights Division’s commitment to ending illegal discriminatory employment practices.”

Apple was accused of violating requirements during recruitment for jobs that fall under the permanent labor certification program (PERM), which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The program allows employers to sponsor workers for lawful permanent resident status after completing recruitment and meeting other program requirements.

DOJ: Apple discriminated by not posting jobs online that it wanted to fill with PERM participants

Apple was accused of unlawful discrimination against U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents and those granted asylum or refugee status while it preferred hiring workers in the PERM program.

Apple was found to not advertise jobs it wanted to fill by using the PERM program, and it required the PERM position applicants to mail paper applications, even though the company allowed electronic applications for other positions.

An attorney and former director of patent litigation at Apple filed a lawsuit in January claiming she was fired after speaking up about a colleague she was personally involved with whom she says subjected her to “extreme domestic abuse,” including death threats.

Have you ever applied to work at Apple? Let us know in the comments.

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