The Supreme Court will soon decide whether women who have worked at WalMart will be granted class-action status, in order to have the ability to sue WalMart.  If granted, this long-running gender discrimination lawsuit will be the largest class-action suit in history, concerning 600,000 and 1.5 million potential plaintiffs.

Litigation began around ten years ago and is led by Wal-Mart veterans Betty Dukes and Christine Kwapnoski.  In Dukes vs. Walmart, allegations arose that female Wal-Mart employees were being overlooked when it came down to promotions.  Wal-Mart is the nations largest private-sector employer.  The case can set a new precedent for business and employment law, which is a reason many businesses are siding with Wal-Mart.

Other similar lawsuits have been filed against Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo and Bayer, however women in other companies such as Pepsico, Kraft and Archer Daniels Midland have made great advances in these major corporations.

Wal-Mart has good chances in court as Chief Justice John Roberts has generally been pro-business, however a drawn out lawsuit would bring Wal-Mart to an unwelcomed gender equity battle. For Wal-Mart, a company who used to dominate the U.S. as a top gun retail giant, it is more like a giant-pummeled circus elephant whose power is growing less with each hurtful lash.  They have been improving their public image, however, if the class-action status is approved, Wal-Mart will get branded as the company that maltreats not only women, but all who fall under job discrimination.  This would mean a victory to employees everywhere; an incredible strike against the giant elephant.

If you have an employment equity question, believe your company has otherwise treated you unfairly, or have not been received what was promised, contact us to see if litigation can be avoided with alternative dispute resolution.

Filed under: Civil Litigation, Corporate Law by Yau Jo-Anne Friday, May 6th, 2011