Key Highlights :
Apple Inc. has agreed to pay $25 million to settle allegations of discriminatory hiring practices during 2018 and 2019. The settlement was announced Thursday by the Department of Justice, which had been investigating the tech giant for violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
According to the settlement, the DOJ inquiry determined that Apple had discriminated against U.S. candidates for jobs that were awarded to some immigrant workers seeking to be granted permanent resident status in the country. The investigation also found that Apple had discriminated against non-U.S. residents in some instances.
Apple denied any wrongdoing in its formal seven-page settlement and defended its hiring record in a statement to The Associated Press. “Apple proudly employs more than 90,000 people in the United States and continues to invest nationwide, creating millions of jobs,” the Cupertino, California-based company said. “When we realized we had unintentionally not been following the DOJ standard, we agreed to a settlement addressing their concerns.”
The $25 million settlement amount is a fraction of the $383 billion in revenue that Apple generated during its last fiscal year ending Sept. 30. Most of the settlement amount – $18.25 million – will be used to compensate victims of Apple’s alleged discrimination. The remaining funds will cover the fine that Apple is paying for its hiring practices during the timeframe covered in the settlement.
The DOJ’s investigation into Apple’s hiring practices is a reminder of the importance of compliance with immigration and employment laws. Companies are responsible for ensuring that their hiring practices are fair and non-discriminatory. If a company is found to have violated the law, it can face significant fines and penalties.