The Human Resources Manager of Toshiba America Nuclear Energy (TANE) Corporation filed a class action employment lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York today in an effort to end systemic, companywide gender discrimination against herself and other female employees by TANE and its parent corporation, Toshiba America, Inc.

Elaine Cyphers joined TANE as its Human Resources Manager in June 2008.  Prior to joining Toshiba, she had more than 25 years of human resources experience.  According to the Complaint, although Toshiba publicly touts its commitment to gender diversity and its efforts to promote more female employees to managerial positions, discrimination against women is pervasive in the company.

The Complaint details a pattern of discrimination against women employed by the giant technology manufacturer and energy system supplier.  The Complaint asserts that Toshiba engages in systemic gender discrimination against female employees by paying them less than their male counterparts, denying them promotions into better and higher paying positions, limiting their employment opportunities to lower and less desirable job classifications, and exposing them to different treatment as employees. The Complaint also details preferential treatment that males at Toshiba receive with respect to salary, benefits, bonuses and promotions.