Does Disney Pay Female Workers Less than Male Workers?

In recent news, Disney faces allegations that they pay their female workers less than male employees.

The Case: LaRonda Rasmussen, et al. v. The Walt Disney Co. et al.

The Court: Superior Court of the State of California, Los Angeles County

The Case No.: 19STCV10974

The Plaintiff: LaRonda Rasmussen, et al. v. The Walt Disney Co. et al.

The plaintiff in the case, LaRonda Rasmussen, and at least 8,900 other women employed by Disney claim that the company pays female employees less than male employees. The female Disney employees requested class certification for a class of women employed by Disney in California who are nonunion and employed in positions below the level of vice president any time between April 2015 and the present. According to the lawsuit, Disney allegedly underpays women in middle management in comparison to their male coworkers. The complaint also claims Disney passes over women for promotions in favor of male coworkers.

The Defendant: LaRonda Rasmussen, et al. v. The Walt Disney Co. et al.

The defendant in the case, The Walt Disney Co. et al., argued that the plaintiffs failed to adequately identify and define “substantially similar” jobs performed by male and female Disney employees. However, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle rejected Disney’s argument. Instead, the judge agreed to certify the class of women under California’s Equal Pay Act. However, the judge failed to certify a larger class under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.

The Case: LaRonda Rasmussen, et al. v. The Walt Disney Co. et al.

The case, LaRonda Rasmussen et al. v. The Walt Disney Co. et al., was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, Los Angeles County. A California federal judge determined Disney would have to face labor law claims brought against it by a class of women arguing they were paid less than their male coworkers at the company.

If you have questions about how to file an employment law complaint, please get in touch with Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Experienced California employment law attorneys are ready to assist you in various law firm offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago.