State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company fired a worker at its Richardson office and put her on a ‘do not hire’ list after she raised concerns about discrimination regarding her citizenship status, according to a settlement reached with the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division determined that the insurance company retaliated against the worker after she opposed the rejection of her valid permanent resident card, which included a notice from the Department of Homeland Security that extended the validity of the card past its expiration date.
The insurance company will pay more than $4,600 in civil penalties to the United States Treasury and more than $30,000 in backpay to the affected worker, according to the settlement. As a result of the settlement, State Farm will also have to train its personnel on anti-discrimination requirements from the Immigration and Nationality Act, revise its employment policies, and be subject to monitoring and reporting requirements.
The settlement resolves The Justice Department decision that State Farm violated the Immigration and Nationality Act when the insurance company fired her and labeled her as “do not hire” for reporting discrimination.
A State Farm spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about the settlement.
“Workers have the right to oppose perceived discrimination, without retaliation,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring workers are able to speak up about discrimination without fear of unlawful retaliation.”
