A judge has ruled that a woman who apparently missed out on promotions in Silicon Valley due to gender will be able to seek punitive damages. Ellen Pao says she was overlooked for multiple promotions whilst working for Kleiner Perkins. Pao is now the boss of Reddit and says that she was dismissed after complaining. However, the company said she was fired due to her performance. Facebook and Twitter are also facing similar cases, which they both deny.
Ms Pao is also seeking $16 million in compensation for lost wages. She also says that events took place to which females were not invited
In addition to punitive damages, Ms Pao is also seeking $16m (£11m) in compensation for lost wages. Mary Meeker, a partner at Kleiner Perkins, said the company was not a poor employer, claiming it was “the best place to be a woman in the business”.
Tina Huang, a former software engineer for Twitter has filed a legal case against the company, claiming that promotions are based on “subjective judgment”, with committees being “predominantly male”. Twitter denied her claims, saying “Twitter is deeply committed to a diverse and supportive workplace, and we believe the facts will show Ms Huang was treated fairly.”
