Target Pays Millions to Settle Claims of Racism and Ableism

Target has agreed to pay nearly 3 million dollars for its efforts to block minorities and the disable from getting jobs within the company.

Target paid $2.8 million to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to settle charges the commission had brought against the company alleging discrimination. The Minneapolis, Minnesota-based company gave people applying for professional, white collar positions with a three different tests that had nothing to do with the job they would be performing.

The EEOC said that the tests were in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act was based on the fact that one of the tests involved questioning by a psychologist, which the Commission ruled was a pre-hiring medical exam. It is illegal for employers to subject employees to medical testing before employment.

Thousands of people were denied positions as a result of these practices, and the funds will be shared among those the Commission found to be affected. Target will pay out of its own pocket for an arbitrator to give out the money.

Target only stopped using the tests when the Commission's investigation began and has promised that it will not use tests or similar practices in the future. The company has also promised that it will perform studies to ensure that the new testing it performs on potential employers is related to the work they will perform, and does not discriminate on gender, race, or ability. Target will also have to provide the results of these studies to the EEOC every year.

Another condition of the agreement is that Target will have to hire consultants to train the people responsible for making these tests and ensuring they understand how developing these tests can impact various groups.