Aon is currently facing formal legal action in the form of class-wide charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in late 2023. While these are administrative charges rather than a direct lawsuit filed in a court, they represent a significant legal step that can precede a lawsuit.
Understanding the Charges Against Aon
The charges against Aon specifically allege discrimination related to the company's hiring assessments. These actions highlight growing scrutiny on the use of artificial intelligence and automated tools in hiring processes and their potential impact on protected groups.
Nature of the Allegations
The core of the charges revolves around claims of discrimination based on both race and disability.
- Parties Involved:
- Filed By: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
- Against: Aon and an employer utilizing Aon's assessments.
- Timing: The class-wide charges were filed in late 2023.
- Specific Claims:
- Discrimination Basis: Allegations of discrimination based on race and disability.
- Affected Individuals: The charges were filed on behalf of a biracial (Black/white) autistic job applicant and other similarly situated applicants.
- The Cause: These individuals were reportedly required to take Aon's assessments as part of their job application process, implying that the assessments contributed to or caused discriminatory outcomes.
EEOC Charges vs. Lawsuits
It's important to understand the distinction between an EEOC charge and a lawsuit:
- EEOC Charge: This is a formal complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC will investigate the charge and may attempt to mediate a settlement or pursue legal action itself. Learn more about the EEOC charge process here.
- Lawsuit: If the EEOC investigation does not resolve the issue, or if the EEOC decides not to pursue the case further, the individual(s) who filed the charge may receive a "right-to-sue" letter, enabling them to file a lawsuit in federal court.
Therefore, while Aon is not currently involved in a court-filed lawsuit directly stemming from these charges, the filing of class-wide EEOC charges represents a serious formal legal proceeding that could potentially escalate to a lawsuit if not resolved through the administrative process.
Implications for Aon
These charges place Aon under significant legal and reputational pressure. As a company providing hiring assessment tools, the allegations of bias strike at the core of their product's integrity and effectiveness. This situation underscores the broader challenges companies face in ensuring their hiring technologies are fair, equitable, and compliant with anti-discrimination laws.
