BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit May 17 against Staffing Solutions of WNY Inc., staffing company in Buffalo, for allegations of hiring discrimination based on race.
"Staffing Solutions' conduct hearkens back to a time over a half-century ago, before the passage of federal laws that make this type of discriminatory hiring illegal," Jeffrey Burstein, regional attorney for EEOC's New York District Office, said in a statement. "The EEOC is sending a clear message with this lawsuit. Those days are over."
According to the EEOC, Staffing Solutions often failed to hire black applicants for jobs, despite the applicants having high qualifications, because of their race. When Staffing Solutions did hire black applicants, it allegedly gave them the lowest-paying, least-desirable jobs.
"Staffing companies are playing an increasingly large role in our economy,” Kevin Berry, the EEOC's New York district director, saidin a statement. “The EEOC will fight to ensure that they do not become an instrument of discrimination. The law is clear that honoring discriminatory client requests is illegal."
The EEOC seeks back pay and damages for affected applicants and injunctive relief against Staffing Solutions.