J.B. Hunt Updates Employment Policy to Explicitly Prohibit Discrimination

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. recently updated its policy as an equal opportunity employer after shareholders voted to change it.

On July 21, the Board of Directors for the Lowell-based carrier approved the policy change.

The updated policy, which is on the company’s website, shows “J.B. Hunt will recruit, hire, compensate, offer benefits to, upgrade, train, layoff, terminate, and/or promote individuals without discrimination in regards to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a qualified individual with a disability, status as a protected veteran, or other bases by applicable law.”

The company’s former policy had restricted discrimination and provided for “equal opportunity in employment, promotion, training, compensation, termination and disciplinary actions,” according to a company report. But shareholders wanted the policy to “explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”

On April 21, shareholders voted to amend company policy, according to a company report.

J.B. Hunt’s board of directors then appointed a task force to determine the impact of changing its policy as an equal opportunity employer and study the more than 500 locations in which the company operates, according to an 8-K report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.