OpenAI to Pay $3.2 Million in DOJ Hiring Discrimination Settlement

OpenAI and its subsidiary Statsig have agreed to pay a total of $3.2 million to settle U.S. Department of Justice allegations that they discriminated against American job applicants in favor of foreign workers holding temporary employment visas. The DOJ said the companies failed to post certain positions on their public careers site, required paper‑only applications for those roles, and advertised the jobs on late‑night radio, effectively discouraging U.S. candidates. The settlement includes a $1.2 million civil penalty and a $2 million fund to compensate workers who may have been harmed. OpenAI will also revise its recruitment policies, provide anti‑discrimination training, and submit to DOJ monitoring. Fewer than ten positions were involved, but the agency emphasized the significant harm to U.S. workers. OpenAI denied wrongdoing but chose to resolve the matter, while Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the agreement ensures fair opportunity for American workers in high‑pay tech jobs.