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B&H PHOTO TO PAY $3.22 MILLION TO SETTLE DISCRIMINATION CASE
August 17, 2017 · Dunja Djudjic 2 Comments

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In February 2016, the Department of Labor sued B&H Foto & Electronics Corp. (or B&H Photo) for discrimination against multiple groups. A year and a half later, they have agreed to pay $3.22 million to settle the case.

As the Department of Labor writes, B&H states that they “employ an incredibly diverse group of people.” However, according to the lawsuit, this isn’t the case. B&H allegedly discriminated against Asian, black and female job seekers at the Brooklyn Navy Yard warehouse by hiring only Hispanic men into the entry-level jobs. Additionally, they were sued for paying their Hispanic employees less than white workers, and not offering them promotion to higher positions.


According to the Department of Labor, the Hispanic employees were also harassed at the workplace and subjected to racist comments. Another point of the lawsuit claims that B&H failed to keep and preserve the personnel and employment records. Allegedly, they made Hispanic workers use separate and unsanitary restrooms. They also failed to provide designated restroom or changing facilities for female workers.

As DPReview reports, the employees complained to the company about all these problems, but they failed to correct them. As a result, B&H were sued for discrimination over multiple groups of job seekers and over the Hispanic group of employees. The company has agreed to pay $3.22 million of monetary relief and back wages to over 1,300 people. Additionally, they will provide annual trainings for their managers on with workplace harassment prevention and equal opportunity principles. They also plan to hire a consultant to fix the negative practices at their current warehouses, but also to prevent the problems to arise at their upcoming warehouse in Florence, New Jersey.

[via DPReview, Department of Labor]

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Old news.
--Bob

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

So what? Ford is paying out $10.1 million for the same thing.
Just because B&H sells photography equipment doesn't make this photography realated. They sell a lot more things than photo gear.

d3200prime

Ho-hum.............boring.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

This has already been duscussed on the UHH forum. Where were you while the conversation was going on. /Ralph

lamontcranston

They probably paid the 3.22 million to make the "alleged charges" go away. Fighting a class action suit to dispute these charges would cost considerably more than that in a New York courtroom. As long as B&H continues to provide the products and customer service at the prices that they do, I will continue being a customer. I'm not particularly interested in their political or religious views.

henryp Loc: New York, NY

At the risk of repeating myself ...
B&H Agrees to Settle Outstanding Government Claims
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/bh-agrees-settle-outstanding-government-claims

“While we are pleased to conclude the case, B&H rejects the OFCCP’s allegations … B&H categorically denies the allegations … B&H is pleased that this issue has been resolved …”

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

gorgehiker Loc: Lexington, Ky

Perhaps this news wouldn't bore you if you were the person being discriminated against or had enough of a sense of morality to care about others who suffer injustice.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

I absolutely agree - there is a lot of smoke here for there not to be at least a little fire.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

ygelman Loc: new -- North of Poughkeepsie!

What was really left out of the last quote is that B&H is pleased that this issue has been resolved at so little cost.

Mr Bob

Old news? These are serious allegations. I don't typically judge companies on their moral behavior and won't in this case. The facts provided indicate B&H had operated illegally and has paid significantly. Let's not pretend nothing happened and no workers were harmed. Many optinions but 1 set of facts. I'll buy here in the future but won't seek employment.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Love B & H. Have read nothing but great reviews on that company. But, let's face it, when a company settles, agreeing to pay out millions of hard earned dollars, does anyone really believe there was not a fire where all the smoke was??