U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston | U.S. Department of Justice
The Justice Department has reached an agreement with HCSG East LLC and its parent company, Healthcare Services Group Inc. (HCSG), based in Pennsylvania. The settlement addresses claims of discrimination against non-U.S. citizens who were authorized to work in the United States at the company's Siler City, North Carolina, facility.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated, "Employers cannot erect unlawful discriminatory barriers to work that exclude entire categories of workers with permission to work in the United States, based on citizenship status." She emphasized the department's commitment to holding employers accountable for violations of federal civil rights laws.
An investigation by the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) revealed that HCSG had refused to accept a valid work authorization document from a worker due to her citizenship status. Furthermore, it was determined that HCSG unlawfully refused employment to certain individuals who were authorized to work but were neither U.S. citizens nor lawful permanent residents, such as those granted asylum or refugee status. This policy was in place at least from February 2022 through December 2022.
As part of the settlement terms, HCSG is required to pay a civil penalty and provide backpay to an affected worker. Additionally, they must train their staff on the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)'s requirements, revise their employment policies, expand recruitment efforts, eliminate unnecessary English-language requirements in job advertisements, and undergo monitoring by the department. The INA prohibits employers from requesting specific or unnecessary documents related to a worker’s citizenship or immigration status during employment verification processes.
IER enforces the INA’s anti-discrimination provision which protects against discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring practices. It also covers unfair documentary practices as well as retaliation and intimidation.
For more information on avoiding discrimination during recruitment and hiring processes or for assistance related to potential discrimination issues, individuals can access resources via IER's website or contact their hotlines.
