Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has filed a lawsuit against tech giant IBM for allegedly imposing racial and gender quotas on employees and job applicants. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, claims that IBM violated the Missouri Human Rights Act by implementing employment quotas and an annual “diversity modifier” system that requires the company to meet certain quotas each year based on race, color, national origin, sex, or ancestry. Bailey, a Republican, believes that this practice is illegal under state law.
According to the lawsuit, IBM executives would receive a bonus if they successfully met diversity quotas, but could risk losing their bonus or their job if they did not comply. The company’s diversity standards were brought to light last year after a leaked video call from 2021 showed CEO Arvind Krishna admitting to firing employees and reducing their bonuses if they did not discriminate in the hiring process. Undercover journalist James O’Keefe released the video, revealing Krishna’s statements in December.
The lawsuit also references comments made by Paul Cormier, then CEO of IBM subsidiary Red Hat, who boasted about the company’s diversity policies during a video call with Krishna and another colleague. Cormier mentioned that employees were fired for not meeting the company’s diversity standards and that executives would be held accountable for their compliance.
In addition to the lawsuit filed by Bailey, the conservative America First Legal recently sued Red Hat for implementing anti-white and anti-male quotas. The federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of a former employee who claimed he was fired because he is a white man.
Bailey’s litigation against IBM cites eight specific violations of Missouri law, including inciting, compelling, or coercing unlawful discriminatory practices; aiding or abetting illegal discriminatory practices; and limiting, segregating, or classifying job applicants through the company’s “diversity modifier” standard. Bailey stated that discrimination in the workplace violates state and federal laws, and he is filing the lawsuit to address this issue.
The Attorney General emphasized that Missourians deserve answers regarding why a prominent technology company like IBM discriminates against employees based on their race, color, national origin, sex, or ancestry. Bailey affirmed his commitment to eliminating discrimination in the state as long as he holds the position of Attorney General.
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https://www.nationalreview.com/news/missouri-sues-ibm-alleging-racial-gender-discrimination-over-employment-quotas-withheld-pay/amp/