EEOC v. Morgan Stanley
Active Case
Amazon Gender Pay Equity Lawsuit
Since November 2023, Outten & Golden has been prosecuting gender discrimination claims against Amazon in Seattle federal court.
The lawsuit was the first-ever equal pay class action against Amazon, which employs over 1.5 million people globally and consistently ranks among the world’s largest companies.
Specifically, the plaintiffs allege Amazon systemically assigned women lower job codes and paid them less than men within the same job levels. These uniform policies and practices allegedly result in women being paid less for similar work and receiving fewer career opportunities.
Framing the Issue
- The gender pay gap has narrowed in recent decades, but progress is moving at a glacial pace. In 2024, women earned 85 cents for every dollar men earned, according to the Pew Research Center. In 2003, women earned 81 cents on the dollar compared to men.
- The gender wage gap is even wider for most women of color. In 2024, Black women earned just 66 cents on the dollar compared to white men, according to Equal Pay Today. For Latina workers, that number was 58 cents.
- Many factors contribute to the gender wage gap, such as occupational segregation, lack of pay transparency, pressure to take on caregiving responsibilities, and historical differences in higher education rates. Gender discrimination also plays a role, as both overt and subconscious biases can lead to pay and promotion decisions that favor men.
- For Black workers, the racial pay gap begins as young as 16. That disparity has lifelong consequences as it sets individuals on an earnings track that lasts for decades.
