Jury Awards Nike Ex-Employee More Than $15M in Sex Discrimination Case
A federal jury in Oregon found that Nike discriminated against former employee Heather Hender by paying her less than male colleagues and delaying her promotions, in violation of federal and state laws.
In 2018, Hender and three other female employees sued Nike, alleging sex discrimination. The lawsuit claimed they were paid, on average, about $11,000 less than male co-workers and that Nike’s HR department failed to address their concerns.
Jury Hears Sex Discrimination Case
The other plaintiffs settled, leaving Hender’s claims to proceed to trial. After a six-day trial, the jury awarded Hender:
- $19,739.52 in back pay for Equal Pay Act violations
- $7.5 million in punitive damages under Title VII, and
- $7.5 million in punitive damages under Oregon law.
This is yet another seven-figure verdict that highlights the potential liability employers face when compensation decisions and promotion practices are challenged as discriminatory.
More info: Hender v. Nike verdict form
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