The computer giant Dell, is facing a potential class action suit brought by 4 former female human resources executives. The women filed a class action lawsuit against the computer company Wednesday, October 29 in California, alleging they are victims of an environment of "systemic discrimination" that blocks women from advancing within the company. The suit states that the former employees are trying to end a recent round of layoffs they believe unfairly target women and employees over 40.
According to a statement from the plaintiffs' attorneys, the women are seeking damages of $500 million as compensation for "thousands of current and former Dell female managers and executives, and older employees disproportionately affected by the company's mass layoffs in 2007 and 2008."
Last year Dell cut some 8,900 jobs allegedly in an effort to stay competitive in the computer business. Currently, the company has a global workforce of about 80,000 people.