Microsoft Corp on Wednesday was hit with a proposed class action lawsuit in U.S. court claiming its policy of ranking employees to determine pay and promotions led to discrimination against women.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Seattle, Washington by former technicianKatherine Moussouris, who claims she was passed over for promotions given to less-qualified men and was told supervisors did not like her "manner or style."
Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft gives employees numerical rankings based on performance evaluations, according to the lawsuit, and routinely gave female workers lower ratings based on subjective criteria.
"Microsoft systematically undervalues the efforts and achievements of its female technical employees," said Adam Klein of well-known employment law firm Outten & Golden in New York, one of the firms representing Moussouris.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella last year was criticized for suggesting at an industry conference that women in technology jobs should not ask for pay raises and should have faith that their companies will compensate them fairly. He later apologised, but also maintained that the company paid men and women equally.
Wednesday's lawsuit appeared to be the first of its kind filed against Microsoft.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, men in the tech industry last year earned about 24 percent more than their female colleagues.
Moussouris, who is seeking to represent a class of any female U.S. technical workers employed by Microsoft since 2009, also claims she received a low bonus in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment. She resigned in 2014 after seven years with the company, the lawsuit says, because supervisors failed to address what she claimed was pervasive discrimination.
It was not clear how large the proposed class could be or what damages would be sought, but the lawsuit said they would be in excess of $5 million. Microsoft currently has about 117,000 employees.
A number of other major tech companies are also facing gender discrimination claims. Lawsuits were filed earlier this year against Facebook and Twitter at the same time that a high-profile trial was wrapping up in a case against top Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
Ellen Pao, a former junior partner with the firm, failed to convince a California jury that her bosses discriminated against her by making sexist comments, excluding her from meetings and giving desirable assignments to men.
The case is Katherine Moussouris v. Microsoft Corp, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, No. 15-cv-1483.
Reuters
Thu Sep 17 2015
Wednesday's lawsuit appeared to be the first of its kind filed against Microsoft.
Kerja ganti paip lama di Seluruh Sarawak bermula tahun ini
Sarawak akan memulakan kerja-kerja penggantian saluran paip lama sepanjang 2,740 kilometer di seluruh negeri itu bermula tahun ini.
Julaihi beri jaminan bekalan air di Sarawak pada Hari Raya mencukupi
Menteri Utiliti dan Telekomunikasi Sarawak mengingatkan orang ramai supaya elakkan pembaziran meskipun bekalan air ketika Hari Raya nanti dijamin mencukupi.
90 peratus kawasan terlibat kebakaran hutan berjaya dipadamkan
Operasi pemadaman kebakaran hutan di Kuala Baram sejak seminggu lalu berjaya dengan 90 peratus api dikawasan terjejas berjaya dipadamkan.
Pembantu bengkel diberkas, bakar mercun tengah jalan
Tindakan seorang lelaki membakar mercun di tengah jalan ketika menyertai perarakan mengiringi upacara pengebumian dekat pekan Banting di sini mengundang padah apabila diberkas polis pada Rabu.
El Nino: Al-Sultan Abdullah tinjau Sungai Pahang, titah adakan solat hajat
Sultan Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Riayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah berkenan meninjau Sungai Pahang yang dilaporkan surut akibat fenomena El Nino.
Hujan roket Hizbullah gegar utara Israel
Pejuang Hizbullah pada Rabu melancarkan kira-kira 30 roket dari Lubnan ke kawasan utara Israel selepas gerakan disokong Iran itu berikrar untuk 'menghukum' rejim Zionis.
Tol percuma sempena Aidilfitri 8, 9 April - Alexander
Pengguna lebuh raya membabitkan kenderaan persendirian (Kelas 1) diberi kemudahan tol percuma selama dua hari iaitu 8 dan 9 April bersempena dengan sambutan Aidilfitri tahun ini.
Penstriman haram: Jangkitan malware berisiko akibatkan kecurian, penipuan identiti pengguna
Awas dan jangan mudah terpedaya dengan sebarang akses haram yang menawarkan pelbagai filem dan siri televisyen kerana ia mungkin menyimpan perisian hasad atau malware.
Insentif cukai baharu untuk syarikat berstatus Malaysia Digital
Perbadanan Ekonomi Digital Malaysia (MDEC) akan memperkenalkan insentif cukai baharu kepada syarikat berstatus Malaysia Digital (MD) dan syarikat berstatus Koridor Raya Multimedia (MSC) sedia ada.
Gentari setuju saranan tubuh konsortium bantu pemain solar - DPMM
Gentari Sdn Bhd menyatakan persetujuannya dengan saranan untuk mewujudkan konsortium dianggotai pemain industri solar.