SEATTLE, Wash. – Microsoft is going to have to reboot some of its hiring practices.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday, December 7th, that it reached a settlement with the company over how it processes employees who are non-U.S. citizens.
Job applicants reported Microsoft for asking them for unnecessary immigration documents to prove they didn’t need to be sponsored for work visas.
The settlement also resolves claims they discriminated against six lawful permanent residents by asking them for documents that aren’t legally required.
While the $17,352 penalty won’t exactly put a dent in Microsoft’s coffer, the settlement requires them to overhaul their hiring process, stop sending emails requesting immigration documents, and submit to new monitoring and reporting requirements.
The Immigration and Nationality Act requires employers to verify the work status of its employees, but it also prohibits them from asking for specific documentation regarding citizenship, national origin or immigration status.