IBM’s $17 million DOJ settlement makes the case for civility

IBM agreed to pay $17 million to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to resolve False Claims Act allegations related to nondiscrimination obligations in federal contracts under the DOJ’s Civil Rights Fraud Initiative. IBM denied liability, and the case highlights concerns about HR practices such as compensation, hiring, and promotions, which SHRM research identifies as critical areas for assessing organizational civility.