Bentonville 3/29/2011 1:21:29 AM
News / Business

Retail Giant Wal-Mart in Supreme Court over Discrimination Suit

by Daun Lee

Wal-Mart the largest public employer in the country is going to the Supreme Court to contest a lawsuit for sexual discrimination. Six former female employees filed the lawsuit in 2001 allege that the retailers passed them over for promotions as well as paying them less. One of the women also claims that a manager told her to “doll up” for work. The lawsuit which is in the Supreme Court on appeal to address Wal-Mart’s contention is that the suit is too large. The civil action case could eventually involve settlements for millions of female employees, costing the corporation billions of dollars.

Women in the workplace have fought for equal pay and promotions and are protected from sexual harassment aided by sexual harassment attorneys and discrimination by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Should the civil action suit against Wal-Mart be approved by the Supreme Court the outcome could redefine future laws based on sexual discrimination.

The problems of sexually based discrimination and harassment in the workplace have improved over the years, but many women must still retain sexual harassment lawyers to uphold their rights. In spite of the legislation against sexual harassment the problem is still prevalent on the job with over 40 percent of women on the job being subjected to inappropriate innuendos, physical references and jokes. The surest way to alleviate the on the job tension created by sexually based harassment is to hire a sexual harassment attorney.