RENHILL STAFFING TO PAY $580,000 TO SETTLE EEOC AGE, RACE AND RETALIATION SUIT

Agency Charged That Fort Wayne Company Denied Referrals Based on Age and Race, Retaliated Against Employees Who Objected to Discriminatory Practices

INDIANAPOLIS – A Fort Wayne staffing company will settle an age, race and retaliation discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.  The company will pay a total of $580,000 and will also pay up to $5,000 in settlement administrative expenses.

The EEOC charged in its suit (Case no. 1:08-cv-0082-TS in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Fort Wayne Division) that Renhill Services, Inc. violated federal law by failing to refer African American applicants and applicants age 40 for work assignments.  Further, the EEOC said, Renhill unlawfully retaliated against employees who objected to these referral practices.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).  The EEOC additionally alleged that Renhill destroyed employment applications, also in violation of Title VII and the ADEA. 

In addition to the monetary settlement, the three-year consent decree provides for Renhill to comply with prohibitions against discrimination and retain employment records, the posting and distribution of a policy of non-discrimination, training, and reporting to the EEOC.

On Feb. 28, 2007, EEOC Chair Naomi C. Earp launched the Commission's E-RACE Initiative (Eradicating Racism And Colorism from Employment), a national outreach, education, and enforcement campaign focusing on new and emerging race and color issues in the 21st century workplace.  Further information about the E-RACE Initiative is available on the EEOC's web site at http://www.eeoc.gov/initiatives/e-race/index.html. 

In Fiscal Year 2007, the EEOC received 30,510 charges alleging race-based discrimination, accounting for 37 percent of the agency's private sector caseload.  Historically, race-based charges have been the most frequent type of filing with EEOC offices nationwide. 

The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment based on race, color, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy), religion, national origin, age, disability and retaliation.  Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.