INDUSTRY NEWS
EEOC files suit against janitorial company alleging systemic discrimination
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Diversified Maintenance Systems LLC, claiming a district manager attempted to deter African-Americans from applying to the company.
According to the complaint, in an effort to not hire African-American applicants, the district manager instructed subordinate managers to discourage such applicants from applying by emphasizing the fact that the company ran criminal background checks.
“This case involves an allegation of egregious discrimination based on race, where an entire class of black candidates were denied hire because of the color of their skin,” EEOC District Director Spencer H. Lewis said in a statement. “And under federal law, workers who stand up to employers and to oppose their discriminatory practices may not be punished for doing so.”
The case is EEOC v. Diversified Maintenance Systems LLC, case number 8:17-cv-01835, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Source: Law360.com, 7/5/2017