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ESA News Release: [02/05/2003]
Contact Name: Yvonne Ralsky
Phone Number: (202)693-4676

Labor Department Files Administrative Complaint Against Whirlpool Corporation Alleging Hiring Discrimination

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor today filed an administrative complaint against Whirlpool Corporation, headquartered in Benton Harbor, Mich. The complaint alleges that Whirlpool, a federal contractor, discriminated against minority job applicants for “technicians” (entry level assembler) positions at the corporation’s appliance manufacturing facility in Tulsa, Okla.

The department seeks an order requiring Whirlpool to offer jobs to the applicants who would have been hired absent the discrimination. The department also seeks debarment, lost wages, interest, retroactive seniority, and all other fringe benefits of employment.

The Labor Department uncovered the alleged discrimination during a compliance evaluation of Whirlpool’s Oklahoma facility conducted by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). The most significant indication of discrimination resulted from Whirlpool’s use of a multiple-choice test as an employment-screening device. OFCCP found that the test screened out a higher proportion of minorities and is not job related and consistent with business necessity. OFCCP considered Whirlpool’s responses to OFCCP’s findings and tried to achieve a settlement, but the Department’s efforts at conciliation failed. Whirlpool has contracts to provide appliances to the federal government.

“The action the department is taking against Whirlpool Corporation reflects our strong commitment to protecting lower wage workers from discrimination,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

The OFCCP enforces laws and executive orders that require federal contractors to provide equal employment opportunity for women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans. More information is available on the Web at www.dol.gov/esa/ofccp.

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