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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 693-4650
Compass Bank has agreed to pay over $500,000 in back pay,
salary adjustments and benefits as part of a conciliation agreement with the
U.S. Department of Labor. The agreement settles findings that the company
discriminated against qualified minority applicants who applied for teller
positions in the Birmingham, Ala.., area. It also settles findings of disparate
treatment of female employees whose salaries were less than that of their male
counterparts.
"Resolution of this case helps to ensure that all qualified
applicants will have equal hiring opportunities, regardless of race or gender,"
Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman said. "Through settlements such as this
one, we also are helping to close the wage gap between men and women."
Following a routine corporate management review, the Labor
Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs found that from
April 30, 1997 through Oct. 31, 1998, the Birmingham-based financial
institution discriminated against 41 qualified minority applicants who were
denied entry-level teller positions because of their race. Additionally, the
Labor Department found that Compass Bank failed to pay some female employees
salaries comparable to those paid to their male counterparts.
As part of the settlement and without admitting any
wrongdoing, the bank will distribute $100,000 equally among the 41 rejected
applicants and hire 17 into teller positions. Compass Bank will also make
annualized salary adjustments of $404,700 to the salaries of certain female
employees across all pay scales. These adjustments will be made retroactive to
Jan. 1, 2000. Compass Bank will pay interest on the retroactive portion of the
adjustments.
Compass Bank, as an issuer and payer of U.S. Savings Bonds,
is a federal contractor and is prohibited from discriminating against employees
or applicants.
"I commend Compass Bank for being fully cooperative and
proactive in resolving these issues and taking steps to ensure that all
employees are treated fairly," said Shirley J. Wilcher, deputy assistant
secretary for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, part of
the Labor Department's Employment Standards Administration, enforces Executive
Order 11246 and other laws that prohibit employment discrimination by federal
contractors. The office monitors federal contractors to ensure that they
provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, gender, color,
religion, national origin, disability or veteran status and meet affirmative
action requirements.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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