Discrimination in the Digital Age
As I scrolled through my social media feed, I stumbled upon a job posting that left me speechless. A tech company in Virginia, Arthur Grand Technologies, had posted a job advert seeking ‘whites only’ candidates. I couldn’t believe my eyes. In this day and age, how could a company still think it’s acceptable to discriminate against potential employees based on their race?
The job posting, which was posted on the recruitment website Indeed, specified that the company was looking for ‘US Born Citizens [white] who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX.’ The audacity of the company’s actions is appalling. It’s shameful that in the 21st century, we still have to deal with such blatant discrimination.
The fight against discrimination continues
The Justice Department and the Department of Labor launched an investigation into the company’s actions, and rightfully so. The DOJ found that the company had violated the Immigration and Nationality Act by discriminating against potential candidates based on their citizenship status and national origin.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division described the company’s actions as ‘shameful.’ She stated, ‘It is shameful that in the 21st century, we continue to see employers using ‘whites only’ and ‘only US born’ job postings to lock out otherwise eligible job candidates of color.’
The Justice Department takes a stand against discrimination
The company was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $7,500 and $31,000 in compensation to those who filed complaints with the Department of Labor. Arthur Grand Technologies also promised to provide training for all company employees involved in recruiting, selecting candidates, or tracking expressions of interest for open positions.
The road to a more inclusive workplace
As I reflect on this incident, I am reminded of the importance of standing up against discrimination in all its forms. We must continue to hold employers accountable for their actions and ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their race, gender, or national origin.
The fight for equality continues
