The convenience store chain, Sheetz Inc., has been hit with a lawsuit by federal officials who claim that the company engaged in discriminatory practices against minority job applicants. The lawsuit, filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleges that Sheetz discriminated against Black, Native American, and multiracial individuals by automatically excluding applicants who failed a criminal background check.

Sheetz, based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, operates more than 700 stores across six states. The EEOC's lawsuit, filed in a federal court on Wednesday, accuses Sheetz of violating civil rights law by implementing hiring practices that disproportionately impact minority applicants.

The company spokesperson, Nick Ruffner, stated that Sheetz "does not tolerate discrimination of any kind" and emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion to the company. Ruffner also mentioned that Sheetz had attempted to resolve the dispute with the EEOC over the course of eight years.

While federal officials clarified that they do not allege racial animus as the motive behind Sheetz's actions, they do take issue with the use of criminal background checks in the company's screening process. The EEOC argues that Sheetz's hiring practices are in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, sex, religion, and national origin.

EEOC attorney Debra M. Lawrence emphasized that under federal law, employment practices that have a disparate impact on protected classifications such as race must be proven necessary for job performance. Even if proven necessary, the practice would still be deemed unlawful if a less discriminatory alternative is available and equally effective in achieving the employer's goals.

The exact number of affected job applicants remains unclear, but the EEOC stated that Sheetz's alleged discriminatory hiring practices date back to at least 2015. The independent agency, responsible for enforcing federal laws against workplace discrimination, is seeking to compel Sheetz to offer jobs to unlawfully denied applicants and provide back pay, retroactive seniority, and other benefits.

The EEOC initiated its investigation into the convenience store chain after receiving complaints from two job applicants regarding employment discrimination. The agency's findings showed that Black applicants were denied employment due to failed criminal history screenings at a rate of 14.5%, while multiracial and Native American applicants were turned away 13.5% and 13% of the time, respectively. In contrast, less than 8% of white applicants were refused employment due to failed criminal background checks.

The EEOC's attempts to mediate a settlement with Sheetz were unsuccessful after notifying the company in 2022 of potential civil rights law violations. As a result, the lawsuit was filed this week, coinciding with President Joe Biden's visit to a Sheetz market in Pennsylvania during his campaign tour.

Sheetz now faces legal challenges and scrutiny over its hiring practices, as federal officials aim to rectify alleged discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for all job applicants.