U.S. Department of Labor and Comcast Corp. Reach Agreement To Resolve Alleged Pay Discrimination

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor and Comcast Corp. – headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – have entered into a conciliation agreement to resolve allegations of pay discrimination against African American and Hispanic employees identified by the Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

The agreement follows a routine corporate management compliance evaluation conducted by OFCCP. The agency conducts corporate management compliance evaluations to ascertain whether individuals are encountering artificial barriers to advancement into mid-level and senior corporate management. OFCCP found that, at least as of July 1, 2018, Comcast Corp. discriminated against African American employees in the engineer and program project management functions and Hispanic employees in the marketing and strategic planning development functions. While Comcast Corp. denies OFCCP’s allegations, the company agreed to pay a total of $295,000 in back pay and interest to 45 African American and Hispanic employees, and agreed to make $78,670 in salary adjustments.

“Federal contractors must ensure their pay practices do not discriminate for any reason,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Regional Director Michele Hodge, in Philadelphia. “OFCCP remains committed to holding companies with federal contracts accountable in ensuring equal employment opportunities and practices.”

Comcast Corp. is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal and Sky. It has contracts with several federal agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Corporation for National and Community Service.

OFCCP enforces Executive Order 11246, 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 based on 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, and may not retaliate against applicants or employees for engaging in protected activities. These laws also require that federal contractors provide equal employment opportunity through affirmative action. For more information, please call OFCCP’s toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/.

OFCCP launched the Class Member Locator (CML) to identify 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. If you think you may be a class member, please visit our website at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/classmembers, where you can also find information about other recent OFCCP settlements.

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 the compensation of others subject to certain limitations, and may not retaliate against applicants or employees for engaging in protected activities. These laws also require that federal contractors provide equal employment opportunity through affirmative action. For more information, please call OFCCP’s toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.