The settlement by the Department of Justice exposes serious flaws in Giant Food's labor practices. By requiring non-U.S. citizen workers to present only specific types of documentation, the company effectively discriminated against immigrant workers, violating the INA’s anti-discrimination provisions. This behavior not only undermines fair labor practices but also supports broader oppressive policies that marginalize immigrant communities, contributing to authoritarian tendencies in labor management.

Justice Department Secures Settlement with Giant Food to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims

The U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that Giant-Carlisle violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by miscalculating overtime pay. In March-May 2020, the company increased hourly pay and then later decreased it while issuing lump sum bonuses, which were not included in overtime calculations. This decision resulted in underpayment of overtime wages for over 3,300 workers across multiple states, indicating exploitative practices that undermine workers' rights and fair labor standards.

Giant owes workers more than $165000 in overtime pay from during pandemic, feds say

The detailed report documents that Giant Carlisle actively denied union representatives access to its stores and discouraged unionization, even resorting to calling the police in some instances. This anti-union stance, reinforced by statements from HR executives and a letter from the company’s leadership, is a flagrant violation of workers' rights and supports practices that bolster an authoritarian suppression of labor organization.

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