Female Employees Sue Amazon Over Gender Discrimination and Retaliation

Employers have a responsibility to foster a work environment free from discrimination. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protects employees from discrimination based on several personal characteristics, such as race, gender, religion, age, disability and sexual orientation. When large corporations fail to address workplace discrimination, groups of affected workers often band together to take legal action and call for accountability.

Three employees in the research and strategy division at Amazon recently took a stand against alleged gender discrimination and retaliation at the company. Plaintiffs Caroline Wilmuth, Katherine Schomer and Erin Combs filed a lawsuit accusing Amazon of systematically underpaying female employees compared to their male counterparts in similar roles. The alleged pay gap was compounded by claims that women employees were routinely assigned lower job titles, hurting their chances of promotion and career advancement.

Amazon allegedly retaliated against the three female workers after they complained about “chronic pay inequity issues” at the company. One employee was fired, while another was put on a performance improvement plan and the third was demoted.

Let’s take a closer look at the workplace dynamics detailed in the lawsuit. Wilmuth said three of the female researchers on her team were classified in lower-paid job categories with significantly less pay while the male employee had a higher-level position that received higher pay. This was despite the female employees performing the same research scientist duties as the male colleague. The complaint highlights a stark discrepancy: The male researcher made “approximately 150 percent of Schomer’s salary.”

The three women brought these concerns to the attention of their managers and Human Resources in late 2021. They hoped that speaking up would urge Amazon to resolve the issues with pay and unfair treatment. An investigation was launched into whether workers were being misclassified based on their gender. However, the outcome did little to address the situation.

Instead, the complaint alleges the plaintiffs faced retaliation “within weeks” of voicing their concerns. Wilmuth’s team was reorganized, shifting her direct reports to a male executive the women had previously accused of gender discrimination. She was demoted to a role that she believed had fewer opportunities for career advancement.

According to the investigator assigned to the case, the move had a “disparate impact” on female workers. The male employees on Wilmuth’s team even acknowledged that the reorganization was “discriminatory” and had harmed the three plaintiffs.

Despite Amazon’s claims of a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace discrimination, the situation worsened after the initial investigation. The employer allegedly engaged in further retaliation, including terminating Wilmuth and placing Schomer on a performance improvement plan. Combs ultimately resigned due to a demotion and limited project assignments.

Amazon told Wilmuth she was being fired because her position was eliminated. However, according to the lawsuit, the real reason she was terminated was in retaliation for reporting workplace discrimination and retaliation, as well as taking medical leave. The three women said they had to take time off work under the Family and Medical Leave Act due to the impact of Amazon’s actions on their physical and mental health.

The Amazon lawsuit is a reminder that fighting for fair pay and treatment in the workplace can be an uphill battle. McCormack Law Firm is dedicated to supporting workers who are struggling with discrimination and retaliation on the job.

Gender discrimination is not just limited to pay disparities. It can manifest in different ways, such as an employer refusing to hire female job applicants or workers being forced to quit based on their gender. If you suspect you are being treated unlawfully due to your gender, we can help. Our experienced San Francisco employment lawyers will advocate for your rights.

While McCormack Law Firm is not involved with this lawsuit, we handle a wide range of employment disputes, including discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, unpaid wages and more. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.