Dell, Inc. has agreed to pay $9.1 million to
settle a class action gender discrimination lawsuit. Brought by two female
former senior managers in October 2008, the lawsuit claimed that Dell
systematically discriminated against women in pay and promotions.
For a Limited Time receive a
FREE HR Report "Top 10 Best Practices in HR Management." This comprehensive special report will give you the information you need to know about these current HR challenges and how to most effectively manage them in your workplace.
Download Now$5.6 million of the settlement will cover payments to women
who were in certain job grades between early 2007 and the end of 2008, the Austin
American-Statesman reported. According to
the Statesman, $1.1 million of
that fund will pay plaintiffs’ legal costs.
The remaining $3.5 million will be used to make base pay
adjustments to women currently in two job grades covered under the lawsuit. As
part of the settlement, Dell will bring in outside experts to review
compensation, hiring and promotion practices and evaluate pay equity, the Statesman noted.
Dell did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement. In a
joint news release, both parties called the settlement “a resolution that’s in
the best interest of Dell and its employees.”