A class action lawsuit has been filed against the massive company alleging employee gender discrimination. The lawsuit was filed in US District Court in Connecticut and accuses General Electric (GE) of systemic company wide discriminatory treatment of nearly 1,500 female executive band employees and attorneys. The lawsuit claims violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Connecticut Human Rights Act.
Over the past 5 years, the representation of women in the officer ranks has remained steady at a dismal 13% and female representation in the Senior Executive Band has also been stagnant at approximately 20% in the same period. The suit alleges that members of the Management and Development Committee carried out and assisted the wrongful acts described in the complaint, including violating company policy when it comes to promoting female attorneys to the Senior Executive Band level or higher when they serve as General Counsel in one of GE infrastructure's seven business divisions. Also, paying their two female General Counsel less than their five male General Counsel counterparts and paying male lawyers more than female lawyers.
