The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced another settlement with a staffing firm on Wednesday. The agency said it reached an agreement with OneSource Staffing LLC in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, over allegations the company required workers sign a mandatory arbitration agreement for employment disputes, including those arising under anti-discrimination laws. The EEOC said it found the company sought to enforce the agreement to prohibit employees from filing charges with the EEOC.
OneSource denied any unlawful conduct but agreed to a voluntary resolution of charges.
As part of the agreement, OneSource will modify its arbitration agreement and notify employees the agreement does not prohibit them from filing a charge with the EEOC, according to the agency. The company will not use the arbitration agreement as a defense to any charge filed with the agency.
“Supreme Court precedent establishes that an arbitration agreement does not preclude an individual’s right to file a charge and have the case investigated by the EEOC,” said Jamie Williamson, director of the EEOC’s Philadelphia District.
Earlier this week, the EEOC had announced a settlement with two staffing firms in a separate lawsuit.