Apple faces lawsuit over alleged gender pay disparities

Apple, known for its recent iOS 18 update and Apple Intelligence AI features, is now under scrutiny for allegedly underpaying over 12,000 female employees in California compared to their male counterparts in similar roles. The proposed class action lawsuit, filed by two long-term Apple employees in a San Francisco state court, claims that women in engineering, marketing, and AppleCare divisions are consistently paid less.

Key points from the lawsuit:

– Starting salaries at Apple are determined based on previous pay or salary expectations, leading to lower pay for women.
– The performance evaluation system used for raises and bonuses is said to be biased against women.
– Despite Apple’s commitment to inclusion and pay equity since 2017, the plaintiffs argue that the company’s practices worsen existing gender pay gaps.
– Class action law firms representing the plaintiffs highlight Apple’s reliance on applicants’ salary expectations, perpetuating wage disparities.
– The lawsuit alleges violations of California’s Equal Pay Act and state laws against workplace gender bias and unfair practices.

One plaintiff, Justina Jong, claims she was denied a team transfer after reporting sexual harassment by a coworker. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and penalties.

California law prohibits employers from asking about salary history to prevent gender-based pay discrimination. However, the lawsuit argues that Apple’s reliance on applicants’ salary expectations has a similar effect in perpetuating wage disparities.