New developments in a possible class action lawsuit against one of Tulsa's largest temp agencies, Stand-By Personnel. 2 Works for You investigators obtained evidence of discriminatory job orders given to the agency by client businesses.
Reveal Investigators provided the copy, and also uncovered a coding sheet that the lawsuit alleges some Stand-By employees used to reject candidates.
The coding sheet instructed employees to use a dot for black applicants, a circle for Hispanics and an "X" for American Indians.
"It's slightly shocking companies are still doing things like its 1940," Alexis Green, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said.
Green said he was blind-sided when he found out he wasn't receiving call backs from Stand-By Personnel. He said it was because of the color of his skin.
He adds he waited in good faith for nearly four months for Stand-By to place him in a temporary job.
"As a husband and having eight children at home to raise, you know you go out and you apply yourself," Green said.
At the time, he was putting his wife through school, picking up any jobs he could to keep his children fed, however hat job would never come from Stand-By.
"I was bothered by that," Green said. "How many more people did this happen to?"
According to Green's attorney, it could be thousands.
A Stand-By employee handed over the evidence. Right there, on the job orders, client businesses appeared to make shocking requests with statements like, "men only," "no women," "prefer Hispanics," "no one under 35," and and "no B ppl @ Sapulpa locations."
"You can't hire a company to discriminate for you," Green's attorney, Dan Smolen said.
Smolen states at least four companies made discriminatory requests. Those listed on the lawsuit are Brown & Hartman Engraving Inc., BLM Equipment and Manufacturing, Inc., Auto Battery & Electric, and Halcyon Marble and Granite Inc.
And they are just as responsible as Stand-By.
"When you categorically discriminate against persons based on protected status, for example if you say 'Hispanics only' you've completely cut out consideration of every other ethnicity," Smolen said.
Standy-By owner, Mark Morris declined an interview, but his attorney sent a statement that says:
"Stand-By Personnel has been in business in Tulsa for over 20 years and in that time has provided employment opportunities for tens of thousands of Tulsans. Stand-By is proud of its record of providing employment opportunities in a non-discriminatory manner to people of all races and ethnic backgrounds, and both sexes. Stand-By looks forward to continuing to serve the temporary staffing needs of Tulsa area employers, and continuing to assist Tulsa area residents who are looking for gainful employment. "
Green said this experience has taught him one thing and it is that our society has more problems than it portrays to have.
Smolen said there could be many more than the four companies so far named in the lawsuit.
2 Works for You reached out to all of the companies involved in the lawsuit, however none responded.
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