U.S. Department of Labor and B. Braun Medical Inc. Enter Into Agreement to Resolve Charges of Gender Discrimination

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has entered into a conciliation agreement with B. Braun Medical Inc. – a federal contractor based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – to resolve allegations of discrimination against female employees.

During a routine compliance evaluation, OFCCP found that – from January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017 – the manufacturing company discriminated against female applicants by steering them into the lower paying position of general manufacturing associate at its Allentown facility. While not admitting liability, B. Braun Medical Inc. has agreed to pay $77,000 in back pay and interest to 27 affected class members.

“Companies should proactively monitor their selection and hiring systems to ensure that discriminatory practices are not occurring when making placement decisions,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Regional Director Michele Hodge, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

B. Braun Medical Inc. holds numerous federal contracts to provide products and services to multiple federal departments and agencies. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs holds the majority of their contracts.

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 who applied between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, the period of the investigation, please visit our website at www.dol.gov/ofccp/CML/index.htm, where you can also find information about other recent OFCCP settlements.

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/.

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.