Disney requested that a Los Angeles Superior Court judge block a pay discrimination lawsuit that was filed by a group of female employees, from recieving class-action status.
The lawsuit, which was filed in April on belalf of two women, claimed that Disney engaged in gender-based pay discrimination toward female employees. The lawsuit added eight more female plaintiffs later, all who worked in different divisions of Disney.
Lawyers for the women sought class-action status, “ – because Disney’s pay practices negatively affect their female co-workers throughout the state.” They alleged that one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, senior manager Nancy Dolan, earned about $30,000 less than the average senior manager at Disney.
“The growing number of women employees stepping forward shows that unequal compensation for women seems to be engrained in Disney’s culture,” said pay gap attorney Lori E. Andrus. “Disney needs to take a long hard look at how it’s compensating its women employees. It is only fair that they be given equal pay for equal work.”
Lawyers for Disney said that the court shouldn’t allow class-action status because the women aren’t truly representative of a class of company employees, like cashiers or store managers, who are reportedly receiving lower pay than their male coworkers.
“The Walt Disney Company described in Plaintiffs’ Complaint is not The Walt Disney Company that exists in fact and law,” a Disney representative said. “The Disney Companies categorically deny that they pay any female employee less than her similarly situated male coworkers and will vigorously defend themselves against each Plaintiff’s individual claims. But that is all this case is — an assortment of individual claims, based on highly individualized allegations.”
Disney isn’t the first company to be accused of gender discrimination. Earlier this month, a female lawyer at Pacific Investment Management CO. filed a lawsuit against the firm, claiming it discriminated against her when it came to pay, promotions and mentorship.
Andrea Martin Inokon alleges that she was passed over for promotions at the firm because she was pregnant. The lawsuit claims that women at the firm who have kids are tagged at choosing their families over work, therefore, don’t want to advance or to be paid equally.
To read more law related news stories, visit our news feed at Cohen & Cohen.
