Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Aerotek, Inc.

What Happened
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued Aerotek, a staffing company, claiming the company had a pattern of discrimination in how it hired workers. The EEOC argued that Aerotek's recruitment and hiring practices unfairly excluded certain groups of people from job opportunities on a widespread basis, rather than just isolated incidents.

What the Court Decided
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a mixed ruling in 2016. The court found that there were legitimate concerns about whether Aerotek's hiring procedures created discriminatory patterns. However, the court also placed limits on what remedies could be ordered to fix the problems. The ruling addressed both the company's liability for its practices and the scope of any potential solutions.

Why This Matters for Workers
This case is important because it shows that staffing agencies can be held accountable for discriminatory hiring patterns, not just individual instances of bias. Workers should know that if a temp agency or staffing company consistently excludes certain groups from opportunities, that could violate federal employment laws. However, the mixed outcome also demonstrates that proving systematic discrimination and getting comprehensive remedies can be challenging in court.