• 23
  • November
    2011

Employers in California are required to follow specific rules for wages, hours and employment opportunity or face lawsuits for discrimination. This hard business fact was brought home recently to one Tokyo-based trading company with U.S. headquarters in Santa Fe Springs. The Asian food importer has just made agreements to pay back wages with interest to 71 women because they were discriminated against for their gender in hiring practices for sales job positions.

The women were qualified to do the job but not given equal consideration for employment. Gender discrimination is against U.S. federal labor laws. The company, which holds over $1.2 million in Department of Defense contracts, is not returning calls about the case. The total settlement amount was $400,000. In addition to paying back wages, the company will offer sales jobs to 14 women when positions become available at the Santa Fe Springs headquarters.

Labor laws are to be posted at the workplace and read by management and employees. If unfair labor practices occur at your workplace or you are discriminated against while seeking employment, the time is right to consult with an employment discrimination and harassment lawyer to enforce your right to fair employment opportunity.

Employees that believe they have been discriminated against for gender, race, age or religion should contact an experienced employment discrimination and harassment attorney. These factors, in addition to workplace retaliation, hostility and wrongful termination, are against federal labor law and penalties for violations are severe. Act immediately if discrimination is keeping you unemployed or affecting your job as an employee.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle, "Food importer paying $400K for discrimination," Nov. 17, 2011