Two Former Female Employees Slap Eaton Corporation with $150 Million Class Action Discrimination Lawsuit

Today, two former female Eaton Corporation Sales Engineers, Amy Gaitane and Mahasti Koosha, filed a $150 million class action discrimination lawsuit against the company, along with three of its male managers in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, according to a press release posted by PR Newswire.

Ms. Gaitane and Ms. Koosha are seeking declaratory and injunctive relief for themselves and the class, which include hundreds of current and former female sales employees nationwide who worked in Eaton’s electrical division from early 2008 through the date of judgment.

Among the plaintiffs’ allegations are that Eaton engages in systemic discrimination against its female sales employees, discriminatory pay and promotion policies and practices, and fosters an unlawful hostile work environment for female employees.

Janette Wipper, Siham Nurhussein, and Deepika Bains of Sanford Wittels & Heisler, LLP represent the plaintiffs and the class action.

The plaintiffs allege that in spite of their exemplary performance, they failed to receive promotions, were paid less than their male peers, and were excluded from career-enhancing opportunities. They also allege that the company’s male managers routinely referred to female sales engineers as “the bitches”.

Ms. Wipper, class counsel in the case, was quoted as saying: “Although Eaton publicly claims that it ‘fosters an inclusive environment that respects individual differences,’ this is a gross misrepresentation of Eaton’s actual work environment. In reality, Eaton’s actions toward women could not be less inclusive. Not one of the 44 members of Eaton Electrical’s General Sales Force management team is female, although women comprise approximately twenty percent of the sales employees in the U.S.”

Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company, and reported sales in 2010 of $13.7 billion. The company has approximately 70,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. 2011 marks the company’s 100^th anniversary.

The following statement is posted at the company’s website: “An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer: M/F/V. Eaton is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant’s race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other protected status.”