Vice Media Founders' 'Mea Culpa' Provides Fodder for Pay Equity Suit
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, plaintiffs cite the Vice founders' pledge to make changes after an exposé by The New York Times.
February 13, 2018 at 06:04 PM
3 minute read
Any company facing media scrutiny over workplace sexual harassment should take note: Your public apology could one day become “exhibit A” in a gender discrimination lawsuit.
Vice Media was hit with a lawsuit Tuesday claiming that its “predominantly male leadership” fostered a “company culture that marginalizes, demeans and undervalues women.”
The complaint's introductory paragraph directly quotes Vice co-founders Shane Smith and Suroosh Alvi who issued a statement on Dec. 23, 2017—the day that The New York Times published a story detailing instances of gender discrimination and sexual harassment at Vice.
“Listening to our employees over the past year, the truth is inescapable: From the top down, we have failed as a company to create a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone, especially women, can feel respected and thrive,” the Vice founders wrote.
Michael Morrison, one of the lawyers behind the suit at Alexander Krakow + Glick, said that the founders' statement is “certainly an admission and something that shows culpability and knowledge of an underlying problem.”
Morrison and colleague Jessica Choi filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of former Vice employee Elizabeth Rose. Rose claims that as part of her job she received internal memos that listed the salaries of about 35 employees and learned that she and her female colleagues made significantly less than their male counterparts. Rose, for instance, claims that she found out a male employee that she hired made about $25,000 more than her per year and that he quickly rose through the ranks to a position as her supervisor.
The lawsuit claims that Vice's pay practices violate the federal Equal Pay Act as well as the pay equity laws in New York and California. The suit seeks an injunction barring discriminatory pay practices and to certify classes of both California and New York employees to pursue damages.
Morrison said that he and his colleagues have talked to other women still at Vice who say they can't tell that anything has changed since the founders' statement last year. “If they are serious about changing, our lawsuit is an opportunity for them to make real serious changes,” Morrison said. “And if they're not serious, we're going to hold their feet to the fire.”
A Vice spokesman said in an email statement that the company is aware of the complaint and is reviewing it.
“As a company, we have made a significant commitment to a respectful, inclusive and equal workplace. That commitment includes a pay parity audit started last year, a goal of 50/50 female/male representation at every level by 2020, and the formation of a Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board,” the spokesman said.
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