U.S. Department of Labor and Crothall Healthcare Reach Agreement to Resolve Alleged Hiring Discrimination

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with Crothall Healthcare, in which the Wayne, Pennsylvania-based health services provider will pay $120,000 in back pay and interest to 224 male applicants to resolve allegations of hiring discrimination.

During a routine compliance evaluation, the Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) found that Crothall Healthcare discriminated against qualified male applicants while hiring for positions in the Environmental Services Job Group at its Winston-Salem, North Carolina facility. In addition to paying back wages and interest, the federal contractor agreed to make employment offers to 28 class members, review and revise its selection process, and analyze its total employment process to identify impediments to equal employment opportunity. Crothall also agreed to develop and implement recordkeeping and record retention procedures, and immediately list all employment opportunities with the appropriate employment service delivery system. Other non-monetary forms of relief contained in the settlement include equal employment opportunity training for personnel. Crothall does not admit liability and denies OFCCP’s allegations.

“This settlement shows the U.S. Department of Labor’s commitment to combating employment discrimination and holding federal contractors accountable if they fail to ensure equal employment opportunity,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Midwest Regional Director Carmen Navarro, in Chicago, Illinois. 

Crothall Healthcare has received federal contracts from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of the Army. The company provides environmental services, patient transport, healthcare technology, facilities management, ambulatory services, laundry services and sterile processing services to healthcare facilities.

If you think you may be one of the applicants eligible for back pay or job opportunities from this settlement, or may know someone who is, please visit the OFCCP Class Member Locator for information about this and other 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. Executive Order 11246 also requires 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.