You apply for a job and go through the interview process. You agree upon a salary and you start work. However, later on, you discover that as a female, you’re getting paid less to do the same job as your male colleagues. This is something that Apple has been accused of doing. A judge has ruled that Apple now needs to face a class-action lawsuit over its alleged underpaying of its women employees.
Apple underpaying women
The issue of underpaying its female workers surfaced back in 2021. This was based on an internal survey among members of Apple’s staff. The survey found there was a 6% pay disparity between male and female employees across various technical roles. Apple later responded claiming that it is committed to pay equity.
This eventually led to a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of 12,000 women who are or were employed by Apple. It sought compensation for underpayment and alleged that Apple violated the California Equal Pay Act.
The company attempted to strike the class allegations and suspend several class claims. However, California Superior Court Judge Ethan P. Schulman filed an order that denied Apple’s motions. Schulman claims that there is sufficient evidence to allow the case to proceed. Now the company will have to defend itself in court.
According to the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, Eve Cervantez, she was pleased with the ruling. However, it is still too early to predict the outcome of the case and whether or not these Apple female employees will be able to get the compensation they deserve.
Discrepancy in the workplace
Apple is not alone in facing these types of accusations. There have been numerous studies and surveys conducted over the years that found that the pay discrepancy between genders extends beyond Apple. This is an issue in Silicon Valley, where, according to Carta, men own 91% of employee and founder equity. This leaves women a paltry 9%.
Also, even among women founders, they own ¢39 in equity for every $1 owned by a male founder. Female employees also earn 47 cents of equity for every $1 of equity earned by their male employee counterparts. These discrepancies grow even larger when it comes to women of color. Some studies have found that the gap varies from region to region, but ultimately, it all points to a similar pattern of women earning less than their male colleagues.
