NY bakery accused of discriminatory hiring to pay $850,000

A New York bakery that provides baked goods to West Point academy and several food service companies has agreed to a six-figure settlement to end allegations of discriminatory hiring practices.

As part of the agreement, Rockland Bakery Inc. will pay $850,000 to female, Black and Asian applicants who were denied positions as cashiers, packers and bakers at its facility in Nanuet, New York, the U.S. Department of Labor said in a news release.

A representative from the company did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment on Friday, April 29.

Rockland Bakery came under scrutiny from the labor department because it holds a service contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as part of its services with West Point. As such, officials said, the bakery is subject to certain regulations ensuring it provides equal employment opportunity through affirmative action.

The bakery also separately serves as a vendor for several food service management companies such as Aramark, Compass and Sodexo.

Rockland Bakery was bought by five brothers and their father in 1986 and has since grown to include five facilities in New York and New Jersey as well as 100 trucks delivering to six states in the Northeast, according to its website.

In addition to West Point, the bakery provides baked goods to Yankee Stadium, Citi Field and Rutgers University.

But during a 2018 compliance review by the DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, investigators said Rockland Bakery relied on a “word-of-mouth employee referral and recruitment system.” From January to December 2017, officials said, that system resulted in female, Black and Asian applicants being denied jobs as cashiers, packers and bakers at its Nanuet location, about 30 miles outside New York City.

Officials said the practice violated an executive order barring federal contractors from employment discrimination.

“This investigation demonstrates that federal contractors should not rely solely on employee referrals to replace good faith outreach and recruitment, especially when their applicant pools do not resemble the available workforce in the communities they serve,” Diana Sen said in a news release.

Sen is the Northeast regional director for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs in New York City.

Rockland Bakery was notified of the government’s findings in January 2021 and recently entered what’s known as a conciliatory agreement with the labor department to resolve the matter

It did not admit to any violations of federal law as part of the agreement.

Under the terms of the contract, Rockland Bakery will pay $850,000 — including $739,500 in back pay and $110,500 in interest — to individuals purportedly affected by its hiring practices. Officials identified at least 151 potentially affected individuals who will have to respond to a notice regarding the settlement to receive a portion of the funds.

The bakery also agreed to open 52 positions for female, Black and Asian applicants.

The agreement additionally requires Rockland Bakery stop relying on word-of-mouth for its hiring and recruitment and provide additional training to employees involved in the hiring process.