Deere & Co. has agreed to pay $1.1 million to settle claims of discrimination against Black and Hispanic applicants at its production facilities in Illinois and Iowa. The Department of Labor found hiring disparities at the company’s facilities in Milan, Illinois, and Ankeny and Waterloo, Iowa, following routine compliance evaluations. As a result, Deere will pay back wages and interest to 277 Black and Hispanic individuals who applied for positions at these facilities.
This settlement is the largest of its kind publicized by the Labor Department this year. The agency found statistically significant differences in hiring rates for Black and Hispanic applicants across the three sites, with disparities dating back to 2019. Deere has agreed to make job offers to eligible class members and review its personnel practices to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Deere performs federal contract work for several government departments, including Agriculture, Interior, and Transportation, as well as the U.S. Army and Defense Logistics Agency. This settlement follows similar agreements the Labor Department has made with other federal contractors this year, such as Caterpillar and GE Aerospace, over discrimination allegations.
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has entered agreements totaling $2.7 million to address discrimination allegations against federal contractors in 2022. Deere’s commitment to improving its hiring practices and promoting diversity in the workplace is essential in ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants.
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