EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION: Wieland to Pay $378,000 to Settle Race, Sex Discrimination Case

June 24, 2010

Atlanta, Georgia - Homebuilder John Wieland Homes and Neighborhood has agreed to pay $378,000 to settle a race and sex discrimination lawsuit that was filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in June 2009.

According to EEOC, the settlement requires the company to pay one white human resources representative and five African-American sales agents who were intentionally assigned in housing communities based on the race of the people who are living in the surrounding community.

This arrangement reportedly caused black agents to earn less than white agents who were designated in housing communities, where they successfully sold higher-priced homes.

Reports said the company was also required to hire and place around 10 African-Americans and women into management positions within the next six years.

Under the settlement, the company has agreed to enforce non-discriminatory hiring measures. It also pledged to continue providing diversity training to its management and executive personnel who are included in the hiring and recruiting process, said reports.