Instacart agrees to $5 million settlement over alleged bias against U.S. workers

Instacart’s corporate owner, Maplebear Inc., has entered a $5 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice after the agency accused the grocery-delivery platform of discriminating against American workers. Officials said the company abused the Permanent Labor Certification system by requiring U.S. candidates to mail applications, a step not required for other hires, thereby favoring temporary-visa employees. The conduct allegedly occurred between December 2023 and February 2026.

The deal, negotiated with the EEOC, obliges Instacart to fund a $4 million compensation pool for harmed applicants and to pay $1 million in civil penalties. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon called the resolution the 15th such settlement under her tenure, while EEOC chair Andrea Lucas said the agency will continue to act against unlawful hiring barriers. Instacart maintains its practices complied with the law but expressed relief at closing the case to focus on its core business.