CHICAGO – Payroll processor ADP has agreed to pay nearly $1.4 million to resolve charges alleging it discriminated against black and Hispanic job candidates and employees in Illinois.

ADP, which is headquartered in New Jersey, also has agreed to enhance its recruitment, hiring and promotion of minorities at its Illinois-based operations, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced last week.

The agreement was voluntary and ADP did not admit to any violations.

“We commend ADP’s willingness to continue examining its recruitment, hiring and promotion practices to ensure that any potential roadblocks to employment and advancement are removed,” EEOC Chicago District Director Julianne Bowman said in a news release. “We are particularly pleased to have achieved these results through a cooperative process of conciliation with ADP throughout our investigation, without having to resort to protracted investigation or litigation.”

ADP said in the release that it chose to settle the matter “to avoid the additional time, expense and distraction of EEOC proceedings.”

An EEOC representative declined to provide further details about the discrimination charges filed in Illinois against ADP, a leading human resources management firm that offers insights on topics such as EEOC compliance.