The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a federal court action to enforce a subpoena against Mauser Packaging Solutions as part of an investigation into alleged discriminatory hiring practices at the company’s facilities, primarily in the Chicago area.
The EEOC is investigating claims that the Oak Brook, Illinois-based packaging manufacturer engaged in illegal hiring practices by classifying job applicants based on race, national origin or sex at various company locations.
The investigation stems from a discrimination charge filed in February 2024 by Andrea Lucas, an EEOC commissioner who now serves as the agency’s acting chair.
According to the EEOC, the agency believes Mauser may have requested that staffing companies provide workers who matched the demographic characteristics of existing employees at specific facilities, effectively segregating workplaces by race, national origin or sex.
“The EEOC is seeking to determine whether Mauser engaged in any unlawful hiring practices, including asking staffing firms to send them workers or candidates based on demographic characteristics such as sex, race or national origin in order to steer candidates between facilities to lead to more homogenous workplaces,” said EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas.
Alleged pattern of discrimination
The allegations suggest Mauser may have denied employment opportunities to different groups depending on the facility, including white, Black and Hispanic applicants, as well as female candidates.
The EEOC subpoena requests information about job applicants at certain Mauser facilities in Illinois and Pennsylvania, including whether candidates were referred to the company, the positions they applied for, whether they were hired, and their demographic information.
Lucas noted that making staffing requests based on demographic characteristics is “almost always illegal” and emphasized there are no exceptions for racially motivated decisions driven by business concerns.
“The EEOC also is concerned that employers can use this as a way to exclude American workers in favor of foreign-born workers who may be perceived as being easier to exploit or take advantage of,” Lucas said.
The legal action, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, came after the EEOC first attempted to obtain voluntary compliance with its investigation.
Mauser operates internationally with 180 locations worldwide, including several in Illinois and 25 other U.S. states and territories.
EEOC seeks court order against Mauser Packaging in hiring discrimination probe
