Female Sales Representatives Sue Daiichi Sankyo for Gender Discrimination

Six sales representatives for a U.S. unit of Daiichi Sankyo, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, sued the company for gender discrimination. The sales representatives claim that they lost promotions, pay, and sometimes their jobs when they became pregnant. Allegedly, Daiichi reduced salaries for some women when they returned from maternity leave while other women were “managed out” of their jobs.

The suit alleges that although there was a large presence of female workers at Daiichi, the male dominated leadership did not comply with policies and practices that protected female employees, especially when it came to maternity leave. Harmful stereotypes, such as women being “baby makers,” allegedly were fostered by Daiichi and created a barrier to advancement for female employees if they became pregnant.

In 2011, The Employment Law Group, P.C. settled a similar case with Novartis, a pharmaceutical company, for $175 million. In that case, when long time employee Kate Breeden informed Novartis that she was pregnant, they cut her salary and, after she returned from maternity leave, cut her position, violating the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Felicia Medina, an attorney from Sanford Heisler, who is representing the six representatives, said, “The women's experiences illustrate the lengths Daiichi Sankyo goes to ensure that women remain in their 'place.'”

The Employment Law Group® law firm has an extensive discrimination practice and has broad experience fighting for the rights of employees who have been victims of discrimination and retaliation by their employers.