High-Ranking Human Resources Manager Sues Toshiba For Gender Bias

The U.S. sector of Japanese technology company, Toshiba Corp., is currently facing a $100 million gender bias suit from a senior human resources manager.

Elaine Cyphers, the plaintiff in the suit, is claiming that Toshiba not only pays women smaller salaries and offers them smaller bonuses, but that it steers them into lower-level position.

According to Cyphers, there is an “astounding lack of women in leadership positions” at Toshiba.  According to Cypher’s complaint, less than 4 percent of the more than 6,000 managers across Toshiba’s worldwide outfit are women.

“The numbers are atrocious,” said David Sanford. Sanford is a partner at Sanford Wittels & Heisler LLP, the firm representing Cyphers. “We believe the class claims are significant, and will be substantiated in the litigation.”

Cyphers has served in the highest-ranking U.S. human resources position at Toshiba America’s Nuclear Energy Corp, making between $90,000 and $92,000 between 2009 and 2010. Men, in similar positions with Toshiba, were paid closer to $120,000 per year.

A spokesperson for Toshiba declined to comment on the pending litigation. Six years ago, Toshiba crated a “Gender Equality Office.”