(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has entered into a Conciliation Agreement with US Foods Incorporated to resolve alleged hiring discrimination at the Food Distributor's five locations in the States of New Jersey, New York, Ohio and North Carolina.

Pursuant to the agreement, US Foods will pay more than $721,414 in back wages and interest to 997 Female applicants, the USDOL said.  US Foods will also extend job offers to 46 eligible class members and retain a consultant to evaluate its hiring processes.  In addition, US Foods will also report to OFCCP regularly on its hiring practices.

“Federal Contractors like US Foods must ensure its employment practices comply with all Federal Laws, particularly those that seek to eliminate gender-based barriers to equal employment,” Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Acting Director Michele Hodge said. “Our compliance reviews have produced agreements that benefit the affected applicants and require US Foods to re-examine its hiring policies.” 

A routine compliance review by OFCCP found five facilities operated by US Foods in: Perth Amboy, and Swedesboro, New Jersey; Albany, New York; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Charlotte, North Carolina discriminated against Female applicants for selector and warehouse positions.

The agency’s review of the company’s hiring practices covered the periods from January 1st, 2019 to December 31st, 2019 in Perth Amboy - from January 1st, 2020 to June 30th 2021 in Cincinnati, Swedesboro and Albany - and from January 1st, 2020 to December 31st, 2020 in Charlotte. 

OFCCP determined 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. 

US Foods previously entered into agreements for similar alleged violations.

In 2021, violations were resolved in Montgomery, Alabama and Bensenville, Illinois.

In 2019, similar violations were resolved in: Ogden, Utah; Lexington, South Carolina; Port Orange and Tampa, Florida.

In 2017, similar violations were resolved in Wixom, Michigan. 

Headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, US Foods is a subsidiary of US Foods Holding Corp.

The company has contracts with many Federal Departments and Agencies, including a $21 million contract with the Department of Defense, and employs about 28,000 people at more than 70 locations. 

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