Apple is currently facing a lawsuit in California for allegedly underpaying female employees. The lawsuit, filed in June 2024, claims that Apple’s hiring practices have perpetuated gender-based wage disparities. Specifically, the complaint states that Apple previously set starting salaries based on applicants’ prior pay rates until 2017. Even after changing the policy in 2018 to ask for pay expectations instead, the lawsuit argues this practice continued to reinforce existing pay gaps, as applicants typically cite figures close to their current or previous salaries .
The plaintiffs also accuse Apple of biased performance evaluations, where women are allegedly penalized in scored categories such as teamwork and leadership, while men are rewarded for similar behaviors. This purportedly leads to lower pay increases and bonuses for women. The lawsuit seeks damages and a review of Apple’s pay practices, aiming for a jury trial .
This case is part of a broader trend of legal actions addressing pay inequality in the tech industry. Similar high-profile settlements in recent years include Goldman Sachs’ $215 million and Sterling Jewelers’ $175 million for gender bias claims . The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for Apple’s employment practices and further highlight ongoing issues of gender equality in the workplace.
