Catherwood LibraryILR School

Nine years after a class action lawsuit representing more than one million female Wal-Mart employees was filed, the company is asking the Supreme Court to review it. Wal-Mart wants to know if one-million people can file a class-action suit, or, like they believe, do they have to file individually or in smaller groups. The suit alleges discrimination against female employees, including pay disparities and lack of promotional opportunities. When the suit began, data showed that 1/3 of Wal-Mart's managers were women, but 2/3 of the workforce was female. A spokesman for Wal-Mart said that they should not be able to file in such a large group because there was no proof of discrimination in all areas. Wal-Mart also said that it "has been recognized as a leader in fostering the advancement and success of women in the workplace.? In April the Ninth Circuit ruled that the class action could proceed, and experts say that the suit could cost Wal-Mart more than $1 billion.