Huyssen Inc., also known as Sedona Staffing and the Sedona Group, will pay $920,000 to settle a variety of discrimination charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency announced yesterday. The settlement resolves six EEOC discrimination charges filed between 2007 and 2009 alleging that the staffing firm engaged in a pattern and practice of classifying and failing to refer job applicants in San Diego based on their race, color, sex, national origin, age or disability.  

Huyssen and Sedona did not admit liability but agreed to enter into a five-year conciliation agreement with the EEOC and the alleged victims, thereby avoiding litigation. The settlement includes a class fund for currently unidentified victims who also suffered similar discrimination during the relevant time period.  

“We are pleased that Huyssen and Sedona Group worked cooperatively with the EEOC to reach a resolution that will correct and prevent discrimination in recruitment and hiring," said Marla Stern-Knowlton, director of the EEOC’s San Diego local office.  

Joe Lavin, Sedona’s director of risk management, said the company is not commenting on the agreement.

As part of the settlement, Huyssen will provide annual equal employment opportunity and diversity training to all employees at its San Diego location, with an emphasis on non-discriminatory referral and hiring procedures, and hire an independent EEO consultant to assist the company in revising its EEO policies and complaint procedures, training and compliance with the agreement.  

Sedona Group ranks No. 103 on Staffing Industry Analysts' list of largest staffing firms in the United States.