DHL to pay $8.7 million to settle EEOC racial discrimination suit
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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Thursday that Germany-based shipping and logistics company DHL agreed to pay $8.7 million to resolve allegations that it discriminated against Black employees.
The agency said DHL was accused of discriminating against Black employees by assigning them to routes in neighborhoods with higher crime rates, giving Black employees heavier dock work and requiring them to move heavier packages than their white counterparts.
The EEOC initially sued DHL federal court in Chicago in 2010 on behalf of one employee and the number grew to 83 workers, 20 of whom were represented by private counsel.
In addition to the monetary remedy, DHL must train its workforce on federal laws prohibiting racial discrimination and provide reports to EEOC Commissioner Leslie Silverman and the agency documenting work assignments and racial discrimination complaints.
Representatives for the parties did not respond to requests for comment.
