Dell to Pay $75,000 to Settle EEOC Equal Pay Lawsuit

DALLAS — Dell, Inc. has agreed to pay $75,000 and to provide other relief to settle an equal pay and sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Kea Golden worked as an information technology (IT) analyst for Dell, Inc. beginning in September 2017. At the time of hire by Dell, Golden had 24 years of IT experience. In September 2017, Dell hired Golden and three male IT coworkers in the same department from another employer. During her employment with Dell, Golden performed the same tasks, assignments and work as one of her male coworkers with whom she worked at their prior employer. However, Dell paid Golden $17,510 less annually less than the male coworker.

The Equal Pay Act (EPA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 both prohibit discrimination in compensation based on sex. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division (Civil Action No. 3:20-cv-03131) after attempting to reach a pre-suit settlement through the agency’s conciliation process.

The parties voluntarily agreed to settle the case, and the consent decree resolving the EEOC’s lawsuit has now been approved by the federal court. In addition to paying $75,000 in monetary relief to Golden, Dell has agreed to provide specialized training on the EPA and Title VII; post a notice of employee rights under the EPA and Title VII; and report certain information regarding employee reports of discrimination to the EEOC for two years.

“Federal law requires that female and male employees receive equal pay for equal work, unless justified by a factor other than sex,” said Joel Clark, senior trial attorney in the EEOC’s Dallas District Office. “In too many fields, including IT, female workers are not compensated at levels equal to their male peers.”

Suzanne Anderson, acting regional attorney for the Dallas District Office, added, “Ms. Golden was an experienced IT support analyst who enjoyed her work with Dell. She was dismayed to learn that she was being paid much less than her male colleague for doing the same work. We are pleased that Dell worked cooperatively with the EEOC to resolve the pay equity issues in this case. And the EEOC will continue to fight wage sex discrimination.”

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.