Lawsuit Alleging Gender Discrimination Settles

A school district in Granite City, Illinois just settled a federal lawsuit alleging gender-based discrimination with two assistant principals for a total of $600,000. Two female assistant principals alleged that they were paid less as administrators than similarly situated male assistant principals.

 

The case serves as a good reminder to schools that, in addition to being costly to litigate, gender discrimination cases may not be solely predicated upon an obvious and deliberate gender bias. Employees who feel aggrieved may be able to make a case appear viable merely by pointing to different benefits offered to employees not members of the protected class. Employers are well-advised to look at hiring practices to assure that decisions to hire employees which are not subject to a scheduled standard (where discretion as to salary or benefits is part of how decisions on compensation are made) do not inadvertently disadvantage members of a known protected class.