Colonial Parking, Inc. settles charges of hiring, pay discrimination with US Labor Department after contractor compliance review

ARLINGTON, Va. – The largest parking operator in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area has entered into a conciliation agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to resolve allegations of race-based hiring and pay discrimination.

Colonial Parking, Inc. entered into the agreement after an OFCCP compliance evaluation found that the company discriminated against African-American applicants for project manager positions at its District-area parking facilities. The agency also found the company paid African-American parking valet attendants less than their Hispanic coworkers; on average, the African-American valet attendants made $2,100 less per year than Hispanic employees in the same position, regardless of the job assignment and location.  OFCCP determined that these actions violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, color or national origin.

Colonial Parking has contracts with the U.S. Secret Service and the International Trade Commission’s Office of Procurement Operations valued at more than $6.8 million.

“The law is very clear: federal contractors must provide a level playing field for workers through equal employment opportunities,” said OFCCP Director Patricia Shiu. “All workers deserve a fair shot at getting and keeping a job, and federal contractors who deny this opportunity through discriminatory employment practices will be held accountable.”

While not admitting liability, Colonial agreed to pay $180,194.61 in back pay and interest to 20 African Americans who applied for the project manager positions. Colonial will also provide three project manager job opportunities to affected applicants. In addition, the company will make job grade and pay-rate adjustments, will pay $67,768.21 in back wages and interest to 54 African-American employees working as valet attendants, and will review and revise a number of its hiring, training, compensation and other practices.

In addition to Executive Order 11246, OFCCP enforces Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. These laws, as amended, make it illegal for contractors and subcontractors doing business with the federal government to discriminate in employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. In addition, contractors and subcontractors are prohibited from discriminating against applicants or employees because they have inquired about, discussed or disclosed their compensation or that of others, subject to certain limitations. For more information, please call OFCCP’s toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/.

If you are an African American who applied for work as a project manager at Colonial Parking, Inc. from Jan. 1, 2012 through Dec. 31, 2012, and you were not hired, or if you are an African American who worked as a valet attendant at Colonial during that period and no longer work there, please visit OFCCP’s recently launched Class Member Locator (www.dol.gov/ofccp/CML/index.htm), which identifies applicants and/or workers who have been impacted by OFCCP’s compliance evaluations and complaint investigations and who may be entitled to a portion of monetary relief and/or consideration for job placement. You can also find more information about OFCCP settlements by calling 844-438-0272.