Avant Healthcare settles discrimination complaint

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department and Avant Healthcare Professionals LLC have resolved allegations that the company posted discriminatory job advertisements on the Internet.

The government says hundreds of job postings by the health-care staffing company based in Casselberry, Fla., contained language impermissibly preferring foreign-trained individuals seeking permanent residence or H-1B visa sponsorship over U.S. workers.

The Immigration and Nationality Act bars employers from discriminating on the basis of citizenship or immigration status unless required by law, regulation or government contract. None of those limited exceptions applied to Avant's recruitment efforts.

Avant has agreed to pay $27,750 in civil penalties, adhere to the law's anti-discrimination protections and undergo monitoring requirements for three years.