Six former and current employees of a US unit of Bayer filed a class-action lawsuit against the company on Monday, alleging gender discrimination in pay, promotion, and the treatment of pregnant women and mothers.
The lawsuit, filed against Bayer Health Care Pharmaceuticals, in New Jersey, is for $100-million in lost pay and benefits, and asks for compensatory and punitive damages.
The plaintiffs, women who served at associate-director level or higher, claim a male-dominated management team fosters an environment hostile to women.
They say that internal company communications stated a preference for men in leadership roles and described women as "loose cannons" prone to "mood swings", "indecision" and "back stabbing".
The company denied gender discrimination and said it would defend itself vigorously.
The lawsuit is the latest in a string of gender discrimination class actions filed on behalf of women employees against big groups. Publicis Groupe was sued on February 24, the application describing the international advertising conglomerate's glass ceiling as a "cement wall".
On March 3, health insurer Cigna was sued for allegedly blocking women from promotion and higher-paying jobs.
Perhaps the most-watched gender bias suit is Walmart Stores vs Dukes. The main issue in that case is the number of plaintiffs to be included in the lawsuit, with over a million female workers currently in the certified class.
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