The U.S. Department of Labor has announced it would fine poultry processor Perdue Farms more than $800,000 for allegedly discriminating against non-Hispanic job applicants.

The DOL said its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs found that the Salisbury, Md.-based company did not comply with federal employment laws at three processing facilities: Rockingham, N.C.; Dillon, S.C.; and Monterey, Tenn.

The $800,000 must be paid in back wages to the applicants, and Perdue has been told it must hire more than 750 non-Hispanic workers. Those hires must also be given retroactive service dates as they relate to vacation and sick days as well as transfer and promotion rights, the Labor Department said.

Perdue Farms said in a statement that it has implemented new procedures to ensure the company retains all relevant documentation of its selection processes and is also conducting training of its human resources staff to assure appropriate implementation of Perdue's hiring and employment practices.

"Perdue is committed to treating all job applicants fairly. We regret we did not more carefully document our hiring process for production associates, which led to these concerns by the OFCCP and, ultimately, to this settlement," Rob Heflin, vice president of human resources for Perdue, said in a statement. "Perdue has strict workplace fairness policies and regularly audited procedures to assure they are being followed."

The Labor Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program has jurisdiction over the Salisbury, Md.-based company because it supplies product to USDA programs.

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