Mastercard Inc. will pay $26 million and change its hiring practices to settle a class action alleging that, for years it underpaid thousands of female, Black and Hispanic employees. The company admitted no wrongdoing.
The settlement will provide backpay and other damages to approximately 7,500 employees who worked for Mastercard around the country. In addition, Mastercard will hire a specialist in industrial organizational psychology to review its “career ecosystem”. The plaintiffs’ attorneys plan to seek $8.7 million in fees, as well.
What a respectful workplace would do:
A respectful workplace is built on principles of fairness and transparency, especially when it comes to compensation. When employees see that pay decisions are made openly and equitably, based on clear criteria such as experience, performance, and role—not on arbitrary factors—they are more likely to trust their organization and feel valued. Ultimately, ensuring fair pay is not just about compliance; it is a vital part of creating a workplace where respect and integrity thrive.
At Fair Measures, we specialize in creating respectful workplaces for businesses with our national training solutions for executives, managers, and employees.
What makes us unique? We’re attorneys who know how to communicate! We speak in plain English, not legalese. We use humor and stories to make the law come alive. And, we’re managers. The benefit to you: practical, easy-to-follow advice.
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Information here is correct at the time it is posted. Case decisions cited here may be reversed. Please do not rely on this information without consulting an attorney first.
