CORRECTED: US Department of Labor, Bechtel subsidiary reach agreement to resolve alleged gender-based pay discrimination in Houston

HOUSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals Inc., to resolve alleged pay discrimination affecting 22 female employees at its Houston location.

Pursuant to the agreement, Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemical will pay $200,000 in back wages and interest. In addition BOGC agreed to set aside $50,000 in salary adjustments to female employees with engineering job titles. The company will also take steps to ensure its personnel practices, including recordkeeping and internal auditing procedures, meet legal requirements.

A routine compliance evaluation by the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs found Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemical – a provider of contractor services for engineering, construction and project management for heavy construction projects – allegedly discriminated against female employees beginning on or before April 1, 2013, by paying them less than comparable male employees in similar jobs. Such actions violate Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. The company denies the allegations.

“The law is clear that federal contractors must provide a level playing field for workers through equal employment opportunities,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Regional Director Melissa Speer in Dallas. “All employees deserve equitable pay and federal contractors who deny this opportunity will be held accountable.” 

Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals provides engineering and construction services for the energy and chemicals markets worldwide. Its business lines consist of liquefied natural gas, downstream, chemicals, pipeline and tanks. During the course of the OFCCP investigation, Bechtel Group Inc., the parent company of Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemical and Bechtel National Inc. has received more than $11 billion in federal contracts from the U.S. Department of Energy for the design, construction and commissioning of the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.

OFCCP launched the Class Member Locator to identify applicants or workers who may be entitled to monetary relief and/or consideration for job placement as a result of OFCCP’s compliance evaluations and complaint investigations. If you think you may be a class member employed by Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemical, learn more about this and other settlements.

Editor’s Note: This press release has been changed to correctly describe Bechtel’s services and business lines.