A class action lawsuit was filed against the tech-giant, Apple, on June 13, 2024, claiming that the company has a practice of paying female employees less than their male counterparts with similar jobs.
The two women who filed the suit, on behalf of themselves and about 12,000 current and former female employees in Apple’s engineering, marketing and AppleCare divisions, allege that the company has engaged in a systemic mechanism of underpaying women employees in its engineering, marketing and AppleCare divisions in California.
Specifically, plaintiffs claim that before the fall of 2017, Apple had asked candidates their “pay expectations” and used this information to set their starting salaries, which resulted in lower pay for women compared to men who perform substantially similar jobs. Moreover, the plaintiffs claim that the company knew or should have known about this pay inequality but took no action to remedy the glaring issue.
As a result of Apple’s alleged unlawful pay policies, the plaintiffs claim that women employees have been denied compensation since 2020 and should be entitled to wages and other compensation.
Depending on the outcome of this lawsuit, this decision may be able to provide further guidance on what constitutes as “substantially similar” in the context of pay equity, which could have a significant impact on how the phrase should be interpreted under California’s equal pay law.
This lawsuit is a reminder for all employers to review their pay practices and ensure that they are in compliance with California’s Fair Pay Act. To learn more about California’s equal pay and pay transparency law requirements contact the Employer Lawyers at Chauvel & Glatt.
This material in this article, provided by Chauvel & Glatt, is designed to provide informative and current information as of the date of the post. It should not be considered, nor is it intended to constitute legal advice. For information on your particular circumstances, please contact Chauvel & Glatt at 650-573-9500 for legal assistance near you.
