EEOC AND B & H REACH $4.3 MILLION SETTLEMENT IN NATIONAL ORIGIN DISCRIMINATION CASE

Hispanic Employees Paid Less Than Non-Hispanics, Denied Promotion and Health Benefits, Federal Agency Says

NEW YORK – The U.S. Equal  Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today filed a complaint and entered  into a consent decree in federal district court with B & H Foto and  Electronics Corp., resolving a national origin discrimination case on behalf of  Hispanic workers at one of the largest retail sellers of photographic, computer  and electronic equipment in the metropolitan area.

The  EEOC’s lawsuit, filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 alleged  that B & H paid Hispanics in its warehouses less than non-Hispanic workers  and failed to promote them or provide them health benefits based on their  national origin (EEOC v. B & H  Foto and Electronics Corp., No. 07- CV-9241). The court filed  complaint is resolved simultaneously through the voluntary settlement of this  matter by consent decree under which B & H agrees to comply with the  requirements of Title VII; equalize the wages of Hispanic employees to their  non-Hispanic coworkers; and to work with the EEOC in a claims process to  distribute $4.3 million in monetary relief to individuals who were paid less,  not promoted, or denied benefits because they are Hispanic.

“We commend B  & H for working cooperatively with us to resolve this matter without  protracted litigation,” said EEOC New York Trial Attorney Louis Graziano.  “We encourage other employers to follow B & H’s example of  resolving this case expeditiously and in good faith.”

The  lawsuit and consent decree are filed in the United States District Court for  the Southern District of New York. The  decree, in addition to proving for distribution of the multi-million dollar  settlement fund, also requires employer training, notice posting, adoption of  an anti-discrimination policy, reporting to the EEOC, and monitoring by the  EEOC for the following five years.

EEOC New York District Director Spencer H. Lewis, said: “Employees are entitled to work in an  environment free of pay disparity and discrimination due to a person’s national  origin. Every individual deserves the  freedom to compete in the workplace on a fair and level playing field.”

The EEOC enforces  federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about  the Commission is available on the agency’s web site at www.eeoc.gov