The US Department of Labor and Cooper Health System have entered into a conciliation agreement to resolve alleged hiring and compensation discrimination at the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in Camden. A compliance review by the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs found that, from July 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2017, Cooper Health System discriminated against 64 female, Black and Hispanic applicants for nurse associate PRN positions, and discriminated against 337 affected individuals employed in supervisor, nursing and clerical positions by paying them less than comparable male and white employees. These actions violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. Cooper Health System has agreed to pay $625,000, including $514,463, in back pay and $110,536, in interest, to the affected candidates. The contractor also will take steps to ensure its personnel and compensation practices, including recordkeeping and internal auditing procedures, meet legal requirements.
