IBM and Red Hat are facing lawsuits alleging discrimination in hiring practices, as Missouri’s state attorney general filed a lawsuit that claims IBM has adopted illegal policies favoring applicants of a certain skin color. This alleged discrimination violates state and federal laws, according to Attorney General Andrew Bailey. The lawsuit aims to address what Bailey calls “corporate racism” and seeks to eliminate discrimination in the workplace.
The lawsuit includes information about a leaked video involving an argument between IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna and Red Hat executives. The lawsuit claims that IBM uses a “diversity modifier” that requires the company to meet hiring quotas based on race, color, national origin, sex, or ancestry, which the AG’s office says violates Missouri Human Rights Law.
IBM has denied any wrongdoing, stating that they do not use quotas and never have. The lawsuit is part of a larger discussion around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in the tech industry. This lawsuit follows another filed against Red Hat, alleging an “anti-white agenda.” Both IBM and Red Hat employ thousands of people in the Raleigh and North Carolina area.
Rick Smith, who recently retired as editor of WRAL TechWire, co-founded the publication in 2002 and is a co-author of a book on internet strategic planning. He can be contacted at rickrosssmith@gmail.com.
In summary, the lawsuits against IBM and Red Hat allege discrimination in hiring practices based on skin color, with the Missouri attorney general filing a lawsuit against IBM for allegedly using illegal policies that favor certain applicants. The companies deny any wrongdoing, but the lawsuits are part of a larger conversation about diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
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https://wraltechwire.com/2024/06/21/missouri-ag-lawsuit-against-ibm-is-important-step-in-harpooning-the-whale-of-corporate-racism/?amp=1