Cargill says hiring discrimination claims are unfounded

The U.S. Dept. of Labor is accusing Cargill of hiring discrimination, even though no one filed any complaints against us and there were no instances of discrimination. Our meatpacking plants in Beardstown, Ill.; Springdale, Ark., and Fort Morgan, Colo. are among the most diverse workplaces anywhere in America. To say that’s discrimination is just wrong.

Why does Cargill say the Dept. of Labor’s findings are wrong?

• More than 85 percent of the employees at those plants are minorities and women.
• Our employees include Hispanics, blacks, whites, Asians, Native Americans, men and women.
• Our employees come from more than 30 different countries.

What evidence of discrimination was there?

None. The accusations were not based on complaints or lawsuits from applicants. Instead, a government office used a computer model to claim Cargill should have hired a specific number of people from each race and gender. We believe that hiring based on numbers is simply unlawful. As Cargill Senior Vice President Bill Buckner put it: “The agency needs to ensure that it’s not forcing employers to violate the very laws the agency is supposed to be enforcing.”

Why is Cargill paying a $2.2 million settlement?

We hope there will be reform to stop the use of this statistical model. Fighting unwarranted allegations is expensive and time-consuming.

What is the company’s track record on hiring?

We’re proud of the diversity at our plants and proud of our great employees. Read for yourself how they’ve enriched not only Cargill, but the communities where they live.