Title: Virginia Tech Company Settles Discrimination Claims for $38,500

In a recent settlement agreement, Arthur Grand Technologies, an information technology firm based in Ashburn, Virginia, has agreed to pay $38,500 to resolve allegations of discrimination. The settlement was announced by the Justice Department on Thursday.

The claims arose from a job listing posted by the company in March 2023, specifically seeking "Only Born US Citizens (White) who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX (Don't share with candidates)." This listing led to accusations of discrimination based on race and national origin.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's civil rights division expressed her disappointment, stating, "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 company has since claimed that the discriminatory ad was generated by a disgruntled recruiter in India and was not intended to exclude non-citizens from applying. In the settlement agreement, Arthur Grand Technologies admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to pay a $7,500 penalty to settle the Justice Department's investigation.

Furthermore, as part of the settlement with the Labor Department, the company will pay $31,000 to compensate individuals who lodged complaints alleging discrimination based on the advertisement. This financial compensation aims to address the harm caused to the affected individuals.

Alongside the monetary penalties, Arthur Grand Technologies is also required to provide training to its personnel on federal hiring and discrimination laws. The company will need to revise its employment policies to ensure compliance with these regulations.

This is not the first instance of a Virginia tech company facing backlash for discriminatory practices in recent years. In 2019, another tech firm, Cynet Systems, came under fire for posting a job ad seeking "preferably Caucasian" applicants for an account manager position in Florida. This incident highlights the persistent issue of discriminatory hiring practices in the tech industry.

As the settlement concludes, it serves as a reminder to companies to maintain inclusive and non-discriminatory hiring practices and to take swift action to rectify any missteps.