WAL-MART SETTLES MAJOR GENDER DISCRIMINATION SUIT
In a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it was alleged that Wal-Mart discriminated against females who applied for entry level warehouse positions at its Kentucky distribution center. Hiring officials supposedly told applicants that positions would not be offered to females and that the company mainly hired males between the ages of 18-25. The EEOC now reports that Wal-Mart has agreed to a settlement of $11.7 million for these claims.
In addition to the large monetary settlement, Wal-Mart has agreed to hire females at the Kentucky distribution center, post a notice of non-discrimination at its facilities, train its hiring officials to use validated questions for interviewing warehouse applicants, and file compliance reports with the EEOC. In commenting on the case, acting EEOC Chairman Stuart J. Ishimaru stated, “Let this major settlement serve as a warning: Employers must stop engaging in these outdated and sexist practices, or they will face severe legal consequences.”
