The U.S. federal government launched a lawsuit against Sheetz, alleging racial discrimination in its hiring process due to use of criminal records. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the gas station and convenience store chain allegedly discriminated against minority applicants by refusing to hire some individuals with criminal convictions.
The lawsuit contends that Sheetz unintentionally screened out minority candidates at higher rates than white applicants. Failed criminal background checks caused 13%-14.5% of minority applicants to be denied. The system only denied 8% of white applicants.
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Although the EEOC said Sheetz wasn’t motivated by prejudice, the agency claimed the chain violated federal law by denying employment to a group of job candidates based on their race. This hiring practice allegedly violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which outlaws even unintentional discrimination based on sex, religion and national origin.
While the EEOC uses similar background checks, it is urging Sheetz to revise its approach to avoid unfairly excluding applicants with prior offenses.
Sheetz responded by saying it is dedicated to diversity and inclusion. The company worked with the EEOC for nearly eight years to find common ground.
Media coverage of the issue varied. Right-leaning sources highlighted President Joe Biden’s recent visit to a Sheetz location followed by the lawsuit. Left-leaning outlets focused more on the legal proceedings.
