Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin is facing scrutiny following allegations that year-end bonuses were awarded based on race rather than performance. The claims, which originated from a report in City Journal, a publication of the Manhattan Institute, allege that managers were instructed to replace white employees on the bonus list with ethnic minorities.
The Allegations
The initial claim circulated online, sparking heated debate and accusations of civil rights violations. An X user stated that Lockheed Martin knowingly allowed their HR Director to remove white employees from the bonus list and replace them with lower-performing minorities. The City Journal report, based on an anonymous whistleblower and company emails, alleges that the company prioritized DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies to such an extent that bonuses were awarded based on skin color.
Lockheed Martin's Response
Lockheed Martin addressed the allegations in a statement, emphasizing that the company operates as a meritocracy. They stated that they are taking the concerns seriously and are investigating the matter. The company also pledged to compensate any employees who were adversely affected and take decisive action if any wrongdoing is discovered.
- Lockheed Martin says the allegations raise concerns they are taking seriously and are investigating.
- The company pledges to compensate employees if wrongdoing is found.
Investigation and Further Details
Christopher Rufo, the author of the City Journal report, was contacted for further context on his source. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was also contacted to confirm if Lockheed Martin is covered by laws against workplace discrimination and whether the EEOC had received any complaints related to the City Journal's reporting.
The whistleblower claims that in December 2022, superiors told him that the bonus list had too many white employees. Santiago Bulnes, a VP in Lockheed's F-35 program, allegedly emailed the whistleblower regarding diversity stats on comp adder.