But violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act can happen across multiple industries and is definitely not restricted to food and beverage workers. “Discrimination of any kind is not tolerated within Frito-Lay or its parent company, PepsiCo,” the company said in a statement. Elmiron Maculopathy Lawsuit; Zantac Carcinogen Lawsuits; Allergan Breast Implant Lawsuits; Goodyear Marathon Tire Lawsuits; Military Lending Act Lawsuits ; Microwave Drawer Fires; View All Lawsuits → Settlements; Blog; Learn; About Us; Search. Its class members may be entitled to funds from the settlement. Pepsi’s largest bottling plant will pay $3.13 million to over 300 people after it was determined that criminal background checks formerly used by the company discriminated against African Americans. Background of the Employment Discrimination Lawsuit As to the facts in the Pepsico case, the plaintiff claimed her supervisor, Jerry Caswell, was sarcastic and critical of her but “kind and happy” with other younger employees.
PepsiCo is based in Purchase, New York. If companies fail to follow these steps, then affected individuals may be able to seek damages. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Tim Dobbyn. There are multiple steps employers have to go through to stay in compliance with the act. Pepsi to Pay Over $3 Million to Settle Discrimination Suit. 9 Responses to “Pepsi settles Discrimination Lawsuit…” tim says: July 26, 2013 at 11:55 am The monetary settlement will primarily be divided among black applicants for positions at Pepsi. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said the former policy of the company’s Pepsi Beverages Co unit not to hire workers who had arrest records or were convicted of minor offenses improperly excluded more than 300 black applicants. What the Fair Credit Reporting Act Means for You. The ClassAction.org writing staff is comprised of four full-time writers. Under Caswell, she was put on a performance improvement plan (PIP). has a strong reputation for being tough litigators that secure the best possible legal outcomes for our clients. (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc will pay $3.13 million to settle a federal lawsuit accusing it of racial discrimination for using criminal background checks to … 1:17-cv-08853, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. This class action lawsuit is an important example of holding companies accountable for violations of the law in their hiring/employment practices. Its major brands include Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Quaker and Tropicana. Dave DeCecco, a Pepsi Beverages spokesman, said the company has always applied its background checks neutrally. But violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act can happen across multiple industries and is definitely not restricted to food and beverage workers. by ClassAction.org … The PepsiCo FCRA lawsuit is a win for employee rights advocates everywhere. An investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that the company’s former criminal background check policy violated the civil rights of hundreds of black workers.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) According to the EEOC, the background check “disproportionately excluded black applicants from permanent employment.” In addition to the monetary settlement, Pepsi will also offer job opportunities to all applicants that were previously denied jobs but still wanted them. The final approval hearing is scheduled to be held on November 15, 2018. today to schedule your free confidential consultation. Once known as Pepsi Bottling Group, Pepsi Beverages is a manufacturing, sales and distribution business. The PepsiCo FCRA lawsuit is Altareek Grice v. Pepsi Beverages Co., et al., Case No. Disclaimer | Resources | Privacy Policy, © 2020 by Wenzel Fenton Cabassa, P.A. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. The parameters of the FCRA dictate that violations of the law can result in fines of up to $100 to $1000 per violation. ClassAction.org is a group of online professionals (designers, developers and writers) with years of experience in the legal industry. in Labor and Employment February 3, 2012. Contact Wenzel, Fenton, Cabassa P.A. If you think an employer or potential employer has violated one or more of the parameters of the FCRA, you need to consult with a skilled credit protection lawyer. If they didn’t get your written permission and follow the proper steps, you may have a case and be able to receive damages. EEOC Chair Jacqueline Berrien in a statement commended Pepsi Beverages’ decision to change the background check policy, “to ensure that unwarranted roadblocks to employment are removed.”. Coronavirus & Workplace Rights: What Can Your Boss Legally Require You To Do. In regards to employee rights, employers are required to adhere to stringent employee notification rules to comply with the act. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes.
A subsidiary of PepsiCo, the global food, and beverage giant, has agreed to pay $1.2 million for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Employment lawyers are well-versed in the legal complexities of the FCRA. All Rights Reserved. Federal law protects applicants from being discriminated against for race, gender, age, religion or national origin. NEW YORK - The U.S. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Wenzel Fenton Cabassa, P.A. Did you know that you are entitled to dispute the information contained in your background check before the employer takes any adverse action against you — including not hiring you? The defendants denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle out of court and not go to trial to avoid further litigation and expenses.
Julie Schmid, the Director of the office of the Minneapolis EEOC that filed the complaint, said “When employers contemplate instituting a background check policy, the EEOC recommends that they take into consideration the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that has passed since the conviction and/or completion of the sentence, and the nature of the job sought in order to be sure that the exclusion is important for the particular position.” She stressed that these criminal background checks should not be unnecessarily broad. Under the Civil Rights Act, this is considered discrimination if it excludes some races because of criminal background checks not related to the job. If you believe you have been discriminated against through a background check, complete our free case review form today.