Apple settles 2018–2019 hiring discrimination claims for $25 million

Apple settled charges of discriminatory hiring in 2018 and 2019 for $25 million.

A lengthy Department of Justice investigation into Immigration and Nationality Act infractions ended Thursday with the agreement.

Apple's employment procedures discriminated against U.S. candidates for jobs handed to immigrant workers seeking permanent residence status, according to a 2019 federal investigation. Apple also discriminated against non-U.S. residents, the settlement said.

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, says it employs more than 90,000 people in the US and invests nationwide, creating millions more jobs. “We settled to address their concerns after realizing we had unintentionally violated the DOJ standard.”

In its latest fiscal year ending Sept. 30, Apple earned $383 billion, so $25 million is small. A fund will receive most of the $18.25 million settlement to reimburse Apple discriminating plaintiffs. The rest covers Apple's settlement-related employment fine.