Macy’s is the latest company to be accused by Stephen Miller’s America First Legal Foundation of discriminatory hiring in violation of federal laws.
The conservative nonprofit led by Miller, who served as a senior adviser to former President Donald Trump, alleges that the department store is guilty of “intentionally and systematically violating” Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against prospective and current employees.
The group claims that Macy’s hiring and professional development programs geared towards “Black/African-American, Hispanic-Latinx, Native American and Asian” employees are in direct violation of anti-discrimination laws.
In its complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, American First Legal also notes that “In its inaugural 2022 ‘Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Annual Report,’ Macy’s … includes, among other things, statistics highlighting the sex and ‘Non-White’ membership ratio of its corporate board.”
“Macy’s has, sadly, joined a long list of storied American companies that now prioritize racism over rights,” John Zadrozny, director of oversight and investigations at America First Legal, said. “Macy’s own public-facing materials all but acknowledge that they are engaging in personnel practices that violate federal law.
America First has filed complaints with the EEOC against more than 20 companies since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action on college campuses in June.
In the current complaint, the group cites Macy’s 2019 five-point commitment to company diversity, which set out to “achieve more ethnic diversity by 2025 at senior director level and above, with a goal of 30 percent” and establish MOSAIC, a “12-month program designed to strengthen leadership skills for a selected group of top-talent managers and directors of Black/African-American, Hispanic-Latinx, Native American and Asian descent.”
America First argues that the language in the company’s announcement “appears to be an undisguised commitment to hiring and training quotas based on race, color, and national origin.”
It also claims that Macy’s commitment to a “systemic approach to achieving full representation” within its workforce demonstrates a “fixation” on “immutable characteristics,” in violation of Title VII.
The nonprofit also sent a letter to Macy’s chairman and board of directors. In its letter, America First said the company’s board has “failed to appropriately recognize the legal and market risks associated with management’s ESG and diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.” It called on the board to hire outside counsel to investigate “discriminatory employment and contracting practices” and to immediately end its employment practices.
Macy’s did not immediately respond to The Messenger’s request for comment.