Johnson & Johnson Sued For Racial Discrimination
December 2, 2001
A class-action lawsuit was filed this month against pharmaceutical and health-care products manufacturer Johnson & Johnson alleging that the international company discriminates against minorities. The suit, filed on behalf of 1,000 African-American and Hispanic employees, claims the company intentionally favors Caucasian employees by promoting less qualified white workers over minorities. Attorneys for the plaintiffs allege that minority employees receive lower starting salaries because "managers are free to establish entry level salaries without adequate written guidelines and with very little oversight."
Attorneys point out that only one member of Johnson & Johnson's board of directors is a minority and that several African-American executives within the company have expressed displeasure with the corporation's hiring and internal promotion program. The plaintiffs claim that minorities who are promoted internally are "segregated into less powerful&areas." Attorneys plan to argue that since job openings are not posted throughout the company, white managers are able to "handpick" white candidates for the best positions.
A spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson said he was "disappointed with the filing" and insisted the company has an "open and merit-based work environment."
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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