Microsoft Corp on September 16 was hit with a proposed class action lawsuit in US court claiming its policy of ranking employees to determine pay and promotions led to discrimination against women.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Seattle, Washington by former technician Katherine Moussouris, who claims she was passed over for promotions given to less-qualified men and was told supervisors did not like her "manner or style."
Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft gives employees numerical rankings based on performance evaluations, according to the lawsuit, and routinely gave female workers lower ratings based on subjective criteria.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella last year was criticized for suggesting at an industry conference that women in technology jobs should not ask for pay raises and should have faith that their companies will compensate them fairly.
He later apologized, but also maintained that the company paid men and women equally.
This lawsuit appeared to be the first of its kind filed against Microsoft.