U.S. Department of Labor issued the following announcement on Dec. 4.
The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with Baker & Taylor LLC to resolve allegations of race and gender-based hiring discrimination against Black and male applicants at the company’s Momence, Illinois, distribution facility. While not admitting liability in the investigation, Baker & Taylor LLC agreed to pay $127,375 in back pay and interest to 42 applicants to resolve alleged hiring discrimination at its Momence, Illinois, facility.
Preliminary findings during an Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFCCP) routine compliance evaluation found hiring disparities from Jan. 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, against Black applicants for order picker positions and against male applicants for processing clerk positions. OFCCP alleges that the federal contractor’s actions violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.
“The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to resolving discrimination issues and ensuring equal opportunity,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Regional Director Carmen Navarro, in Chicago. “Baker & Taylor’s cooperation in resolving these issues will ensure it is in compliance with federal hiring and equal employment opportunity laws.”
Baker & Taylor LLC also agreed to evaluate its personnel practices – including recordkeeping and internal auditing procedures – at its Momence distribution center to ensure future compliance. Baker & Taylor is a subsidiary of the Follett Corp. that provides books and other educational products to libraries, schools and higher education institutions.
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