Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, EEOC NEWS—Employers on the hook for $1.3M for religious, race discrimination, (May 8, 2026)

By Jonathan Anderson

The EEOC also sought to enforce a subpoena against a public school district and contributed to a new report alleging anti-Christian bias.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced two new settlements, a subpoena enforcement action, and the release of a new report. Two employers entered into settlements totaling $1,305,000 to resolve EEOC allegations that the employers violated Title VII. In addition to providing monetary relief to affected employees, the employers agreed to make changes to their policies, procedures, and training to avoid future discrimination. Separately, the EEOC said it once again went to court to enforce a subpoena against a New Mexico school district under investigation for alleged discriminatory employment practices against Native Americans. The EEOC also said it contributed to a new report by the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias.

Religious discrimination. Menzies Aviation (USA), Inc., an aviation logistics services provider, agreed to pay $55,000 to a former employee and provide other relief to settle a Title VII religious discrimination lawsuit filed by the EEOC. The lawsuit alleged that the employer failed to accommodate the sincerely held religious beliefs of an employee based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which precluded her from working during her Sabbath observance, from Friday sundown through Saturday. Because of the company’s refusal of her request, the employee was forced to quit in December 2023. In addition to paying damages to the employee, the five-year consent decree requires the company to implement a comprehensive religious accommodation policy, provide regular training to managers and employees on religious discrimination and accommodation obligations, and report complaints and accommodation requests to the EEOC.

The EEOC filed its lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida; the case is No. 8:26-cv-01270-JLB-CPT.

National origin, racial discrimination. R&R Janitorial, Painting, and Building Services, Inc., a federal contractor providing janitorial services to government agencies, agreed to pay $1,250,000 and provide other relief to resolve a Title VII lawsuit filed by the EEOC alleging national origin and race discrimination. The lawsuit accused R&R of firing a group of Hispanic janitors who worked at the Harry S. Truman building because of their Central American national origins and race. Some of those fired had worked in the building for nearly two decades. The vice president of R&R, who selected employees for terminations, made racially charged remarks shortly before the Hispanic janitors were fired, including commenting that Hispanics were taking over the D.C. area and that “all amigos look alike” to him, as well as forwarding an email that likened immigrants to raccoons needing extermination. In addition to requiring monetary relief, the three-year consent decree enjoins R&R from discriminating based on race or national origin in the future. The decree also requires R&R to train management on compliance with Title VII; train non-supervisory employees on anti-discrimination protections in both English and Spanish; and report to the EEOC on terminations and complaints of race or national origin discrimination.

The EEOC filed its lawsuit in the District of Columbia; the case is No. 1:21-cv-02539.

Subpoena enforcement. The EEOC said it filed a second action in federal court to enforce a third subpoena on a New Mexico school district under investigation for alleged discriminatory employment practices against Native Americans. In August 2024, the EEOC chair filed a commissioner’s charge against Gallup-McKinley County Schools (GMCS) alleging that the district engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against Native American job applicants and current employees, including failure to interview, hire, promote, or classify Native Americans for positions as classroom teachers, administrators, and principals, potentially in violation of Title VII. As part of its investigation, the EEOC requested that GMCS provide information about applicants and former and current employees. GMCS refused to produce the information, according to the EEOC, prompting the agency to issue a subpoena. The EEOC said the school district failed to comply with the subpoena and failed to follow the administrative appeal process available for review of an EEOC subpoena.

The EEOC filed its lawsuit in the District of New Mexico; the case is No. 1:26-mc-00019-KWR.

Religious freedom. The Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias released a new report that includes contributions from the EEOC. The federal agency said it “conducted a thorough review of agency actions and charge data” as part of the analysis.

Companies: Menzies Aviation (USA), Inc.; R&R Janitorial, Painting, and Building Services, Inc.; Gallup-McKinley County Schools

News: AgencyNews Discrimination ReligiousDiscrimination Procedure RaceDiscrimination NationalOrigin RemediesDamages