Source: Sara Carter, By Alesander Carter, August 24, 2023
The US Justice Department has taken legal action against Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, by filing a lawsuit that accuses the company of engaging in hiring discrimination against refugees and asylum seekers.
The lawsuit alleges that SpaceX systematically discouraged refugees and asylees from applying for jobs and refused to hire or consider them based on their citizenship status from September 2018 to May 2022.
The civil suit follows an investigation that began more than two years ago after a complaint surfaced claiming that SpaceX had discriminated against non-US citizens during its hiring process.
According to reports, The Justice Department claims that SpaceX invoked “export control laws” as a false pretext to limit its hiring pool to only US citizens and green card holders. However, the lawsuit contends that export control laws do not impose such restrictions, and that companies like SpaceX can hire refugees and asylees under these laws.
The alleged discrimination took place across various stages of the hiring process. The lawsuit asserts that SpaceX discouraged refugees and asylees from applying by excluding them from public announcements, job applications, and online recruiting communications. Moreover, the company allegedly failed to fairly evaluate job applications from these individuals and refused to hire them due to their citizenship status.
The Justice Department seeks various forms of relief through the lawsuit. They aim to ensure that SpaceX fairly considers and provides back pay to refugees and asylum seekers who were unfairly denied employment due to alleged discrimination. Additionally, they are seeking civil penalties and policy changes to guarantee compliance.
This lawsuit is not the first time that one of Elon Musk’s companies has faced accusations of discriminatory behavior. Recently, a group of former employees of the social media website formerly known as Twitter (now X) filed a lawsuit against Musk, alleging gender, age, and racial discrimination.
The legal action against SpaceX highlights the broader issues of employment practices and fair treatment within major companies, especially those helmed by high-profile figures like Elon Musk. The case’s outcome could have implications not only for SpaceX but also for the broader conversation around diversity, inclusion, and hiring practices in the tech industry.
