US Department of Labor agreement with Rockland Bakery Inc. requires employer to pay $850K to resolve hiring discrimination allegations

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has entered into a conciliation agreement with Rockland Bakery Inc. to resolve alleged hiring discrimination at the federal contractor’s Nanuet location affecting female, Black and Asian class members.

An OFCCP compliance review found that – from Jan. 1, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2017 – Rockland Bakery Inc. discriminated against female, Black and Asian applicants who applied to work as cashiers, packers and bakers. The agency found that the company’s practice of relying on a word-of-mouth employee referral and recruitment system contributed to, at least in part, the hiring disparities impacting female, Black and Asian applicants.

The agency determined that the company’s actions violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

“This investigation demonstrates that federal contractors should not rely solely on employee referrals to replace good faith outreach and recruitment, especially when their applicant pools do not resemble the available workforce in the communities they serve,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Northeast Regional Director Diana Sen in New York City.

Rockland Bakery also agreed to extend 52 job opportunities to female, Black and Asian applicants, provide training to all company employees involved in hiring decisions, and review and revise its recruitment processes to ensure they are free from discrimination.

View the conciliation agreement.

Rockland Bakery owns two New York bakery facilities in Nanuet and Newburgh. They have a service contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, providing baked goods to West Point Academy. The bakery is the preferred vendor for many of the major food service management companies including Aramark, Compass, and Sodexo.

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 require that federal contractors provide equal employment opportunity through affirmative action.

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 who applied for or was interested in a cashier, packer, or baker position at Rockland Bakery, Inc. during the investigative period, learn more about this and other settlements. Learn more about OFCCP.