While Wal-Mart still admits to no wrongdoings, the company will pay nearly $12 million in damages and back pay to to a "yet-to-be determined number of claimants," according to Associated Press. The U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will determine which claimants receive back pay and which will get compensatory damages.
The EEOC filed this class-action lawsuit almost nine years ago. The suit alleged that Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart made illegally based hiring decisions that were based on gender at its London regional distribution center. EEOC stated that the company hired 18 to 25 year old men instead of woman that were qualified for the warehouse jobs.
"It is satisfying to know that the EEOC's efforts will allow the women in eastern Kentucky affected by Wal-Mart's discriminatory practices to better themselves and their families," EEOC Senior Trial Attorney Aimee McFerren told Associated Press.
In addition to the backpay and compensatory damages, the settlement also mandates that the retail giant will fill the first 50 order-filler jobs at the London warehouse with female hires. After the positions are filled, female hires will make up a fixed percentage of open positions.
The Wal Mart company has had a history of discrimination and labor complaints over the last decade and there are over 20 Wal Mart stores in the Houston area. Reuters reports that female workers in particular have been hit hard with discrimination in the company, as there is now another class-action lawsuit against Wal Mart that has been filed by 2 million current and former female workers.
Related Resources:
- Wal-Mart Settles Dozens of Suits Over Wage and Hour Practices (FindLaw's Common Law blog)
- Gender (Sex) Discrimination (FindLaw)
- Houston Employment Lawyer Directory (FindLaw)
