HIGH POINT, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with Leggett & Platt Inc., one of the nation’s leading producers of bedding components and home and work furniture, in which the federal contractor will pay $407,402 in back wages and interest to resolve alleged hiring discrimination at a High Point, North Carolina, production facility. 

During a routine compliance review of Leggett & Platt Inc., the Office of Federal Contract Compliance determined that between Nov. 23, 2018 and Nov. 23, 2020, the employer’s hiring practices at its since closed facility discriminated against 308 Black, White and Hispanic applicants for production associate positions in violation of Executive Order 11246. The law prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. 

“As a federal contractor, Leggett & Platt must ensure their employment practices are free of discrimination. They must also provide all applicants with equal employment opportunities and audit their processes to make certain no barriers to equal employment exist,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs acting Southeast Regional Director Diana Sen. “By entering into a federal contract, employers agree to ensure equal opportunity for all workers and compliance with all federal employment laws.” 

In addition to paying back wages to affected class members, the conciliation agreement requires Leggett & Platt to provide 30 job offers to eligible class members, as positions become available. The company also agreed to review and revise its hiring process and ensure its hiring policies and procedures are free from discrimination.

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated has contracts to provide mattress production materials to the U.S. Department of Justice. Since 2018, the company has held more than $3 million in federal contracts.