400 current and former employees join sexual discrimination lawsuit against MSD
pharmafile | July 25, 2016 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | MSD, Merck, discrimination, lawsuit
Over 400 women have come forward to join a $250 million gender bias class action against MSD, called Merck in the US and Canada, according to counsel for the plaintiffs, Sanford Heisler LLP.
According to the women involved, who include both current and former employees, MSD paid female sales representatives less than their male counterparts and prevented women from climbing the corporate ladder. The claim was originally filed by just one plaintiff, former employee Kelli Smith, in 2013.
The plaintiffs plan to seek class action certification of their systemic gender discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act in the coming months.
David Sanford, lead counsel for the complainants, says: “The message sent by these women is clear: many women across the country believe that they suffered pay discrimination while working at Merck. What started out as one women against a corporation has now grown to more than 400.”
In response, MSD has issued a strong statement denying the claims, saying it “lacks merit”, and indicating that they do not expect the case to proceed as a class action suit. A company statement reads: “The company will continue to vigorously defend itself, and remains fully committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees. Merck has a strong anti-discrimination policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of characteristics, such as gender, pregnancy, race, age, disability and sexual orientation.”
Sean Murray
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