Xerox faces charges of race discrimination in a lawsuit filed by several members of its New York sales staff, in yet another hurdle to clear for the beleaguered office equipment company.
Lawyers of the plaintiffs allege the company, best known for its photocopy machines, engaged in a pattern of discrimination by denying current and former minority members of its sales staff plumb assignments in profitable territories.
Conversely, Xerox "quickly assigns white salespeople to profitable sales territories and expeditiously promotes them through the ranks," the lawyers stated.
Eleven affidavits were filed with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The claims were filed not only on behalf of the named individuals but "on behalf of all minority employees who are similarly situated," the lawyers said.
A Xerox spokesman said the company had no comment on the lawsuit. In response to press reports about the charges, Xerox president Anne Mulcahy told employees that its commitment to diversity has "never been stronger."
"Be assured that allegations of discrimination are taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly," she said in an internal communication.
"We have zero tolerance for any inappropriate behaviors and practices that violate our policies and conflict with our values."
The allegations come about one month after concerns about accounting irregularities at the company's Mexico unit resurfaced, stirring up questions about Xerox's management.
Xerox is fully cooperating with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which last year launched its own investigation into the alleged accounting issues.
Last month, the company was named in a separate shareholder lawsuit that alleges securities violations by current and former executives.
Xerox has struggled in recent years in its attempt to move from a maker of free-standing copiers to a manufacturer of digital printers connected to computer networks.
