Pinterest pays for alleged gender discrimination in workplace

A popular online bookmarking site that allows users to create virtual pinboards agreed to pay $20 million to settle a lawsuit from its former chief operating officer, who alleged gender discrimination and retaliation. As part of the settlement, the company will put an additional $2.5 million into “advancing women and underrepresented communities in the technology industry.” To avoid a similar situation in your workplace, you must educate your employees on gender discrimination and what actions must be taken if someone feels like they're being discriminated against.

Pinterest lawsuit

Francoise Brougher, Pinterest’s former chief operating officer, sued the company in August 2020 over gender bias in pay and treatment. She claimed she had been paid less than her male peers, received gender-biased feedback, and was left out of vital meetings despite being responsible for the company’s revenue.

Pinterest had already been under scrutiny for its treatment of gender and race since last summer, when two black female former public policy officials alleged they had been underpaid, faced racist comments, and were subject to retaliation for raising the issues. In media interviews, the two black female former employees and five other women who worked at the company alleged it was “a den of discrimination” where female employees were ousted without warning and members of the chief executive “inner circle” evaded consequences despite repeated complaints.