Great Dane LLC, a privately held U.S. trailer manufacturer, has settled with the Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations that it imposed excessive documentation requirements on lawful permanent residents (LPRs) during the hiring process. The company will pay a fine of $218,000 as part of the settlement, aimed at compensating those affected by the discriminatory practices.
The DOJ investigation, which began in 2022, found that Great Dane discriminated against non-U.S. citizens who were legally authorized to work. Specifically, the company required LPRs to provide additional documentation, such as a Permanent Resident Card (green card), even though federal law only requires a state ID or unrestricted Social Security card to verify work authorization.
Discriminatory Practices Uncovered
According to the DOJ, Great Dane’s actions violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which prohibits employment discrimination based on citizenship status. The investigation revealed that, despite sufficient proof of work authorization from applicants, the company insisted on unnecessary documentation, leading to delays and job denials for some non-citizen applicants.
“For example, one applicant was required to provide a green card, even after submitting a state ID and Social Security card—both of which are legally sufficient to prove work authorization,” the DOJ stated.
The DOJ further noted that the company’s actions disproportionately impacted lawful permanent residents, preventing them from being hired or even considered for roles due to their inability to comply with these excessive documentation demands.
Financial Settlement and Compensation Fund
As part of the settlement, Great Dane will pay $218,000, which will be allocated into a special fund to compensate individuals affected by the company’s discriminatory practices. The fund will assist those who were either denied employment or unable to comply with the company’s documentation requirements.
While the settlement requires the payment of the fine, it does not represent an admission of wrongdoing by Great Dane. A company spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by FreightWaves.
Policy Changes and Training
In addition to the financial penalty, the settlement mandates several corrective actions. Great Dane is required to revise its hiring policies to comply with federal anti-discrimination laws. The company must also implement mandatory training for its hiring personnel on the INA’s anti-discrimination provisions.
“The DOJ is committed to ensuring that all workers, including lawful permanent residents, are treated fairly and equitably during the hiring process,” the department said in a statement.
Protecting Workers’ Rights
This case highlights the ongoing efforts to safeguard the rights of lawful permanent residents and non-citizens in the U.S. workforce. The INA protects workers from discrimination based on citizenship status and ensures that employers do not request more documentation than necessary for verifying employment eligibility.
With this settlement, the DOJ reaffirms its commitment to enforcing the rights of legal workers and holding employers accountable for discriminatory practices.
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