The US Department of Justice announced it reached a settlement with Minnesota-based Corp IV Holdings Inc., doing business as Masterson Staffing Solutions. The settlement resolves claims that Masterson Staffing routinely discriminated against its non-US citizen workers when checking their permission to work in the US, violating the Immigration and Nationality Act, according to the department.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Masterson Staffing will pay $250,000 in civil penalties to the US and make $100,000 available for a back-pay fund for victims of the alleged discriminatory practices, according to the department. The company will also train staff on the Immigration and Nationality Act’s anti-discrimination provision, modify its policies and be subject to quarterly reporting requirements.
The INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from asking for specific documents because of a worker’s citizenship, immigration status or national origin.
The department reported its investigation found that Masterson Staffing routinely required specific documents from newly hired non-US citizens despite federal law allowing workers to choose among legally acceptable documents, regardless of citizenship, immigration status or national origin. The investigation determined that Masterson Staffing required lawful permanent residents to show their permanent resident cards and other non-US citizens to show their employment authorization documents.
Additionally, the department concluded that Masterson Staffing routinely required certain lawful permanent residents to show unnecessary documents to prove their continued permission to work.
“When employees present legally acceptable documentation to demonstrate their permission to work, employers cannot demand different or additional documents because of the employees’ citizenship or immigration status,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.