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FedEx has agreed to a $3 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor after the government found evidence the shipping giant's hiring practices discriminated "on the bases of sex, race and / or national origin." Compliance reviews dating to seven years found transgressions at 23 facilities in 15 states.



The agreement will require FedEx to pay back wages to over 21,000 job applicants who were denied positions. FedEx has also agreed to make jobs available to 1,700 denied workers as positions become available.



According to the New York Times, DOL found discrimination "against blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and Native Americans compared with similarly situated white applicants." Women also faced discrimination and in some cases were automatically ruled out for certain jobs.



Despite the settlement, FedEx denies any wrongdoing and claims the settlement was agreed to avoid any costlier adjudication.



The settlement with the Department of Labor was the largest with an American company since 2004.



For more information, see the DOL statement at http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ofccp/OFCCP20120507.htm and the Times article at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/business/fedex-agrees-to-pay-3-million-to-settle-a-discrimination-case.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1332418338-SLCzF4orXXozC4JVEvjIyA