Xerox settles race discrimination lawsuit
Apr
, 2008 — Electronic office equipment company Xerox has settled a
class action lawsuit filed against it in May 2001 by current and former
African-American sales representatives.The suit alleged race
discrimination with respect to sales territory assignments, quotas, and
compensation. US District Judge John Gleeson gave preliminary approval
to the proposed settlement. The company will pay $12m as part of the
settlement, and has also agreed to establish a task force comprising
diverse group of its employees to ensure African-American sales
representatives are compensated in a non-discriminatory manner by,
among other things, assessing the territory assignment process.The
lawsuit indicated the plaintiffs were located at less profitable
territories compared to white co-workers, or assigned to territories
based on their race. They also complained they were passed over for
lucrative territories, promotions, and were denied commissions they had
earned.The company denied that it engaged in any policy or practice of
unlawful discrimination or retaliation, or any other unlawful conduct,
but opted to settle the lawsuit in the best interest of its
shareholders and employees.Racial discrimination allegations dominate
the complaints received by the US Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission. In 2006, 27,238 charges were filed with the EEOC alleging
race-based discrimination.