Microsoft, Gates Face Discrimination Claims

A $5 billion class action lawsuit will reportedly be
filed today against Microsoft Corp. and founder
Bill Gates by a group of current and former employees who allege
the software titan engaged in job discrimination.

The complaint will be tabled on behalf of seven current and former
employees, and alleges discrimination by the company in evaluations,
compensation, promotions, wrongful termination and retaliation,
according to a Reuters report, which stated that Willie Gary, a
senior partner at the Florida-based law firm Gary, Williams,
Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson and Sperando, will file the
class action in US District Court for the District of Columbia.

Reuters quoted Microsoft spokeswoman Ginny Terzano as saying,
"Under no circumstances does Microsoft tolerate discrimination in any
of its employment practices. We take any allegations of
discrimination very seriously." Microsoft reported a workforce of
more than 36,000 as of October 2000, of which 22.2 percent are
minorities, up from 16.8 percent in 1997.

An Associated Press report stated that this action is the second
bias suit against Microsoft in the past three months. AP quoted
spokesman Dean Katz as saying, "Microsoft does not tolerate
discrimination in any of its employment practices, and we are
committed to treating all of our employees fairly." Katz
estimated blacks make up 2.7 percent of Microsoft's domestic
work force, and all minorities comprise 22.7 percent of the
company's workers. Katz declared that Microsoft has taken an
active role in promoting technical careers among minorities and
cited the nearly $100 million in grants the company has awarded
to organizations to stimulate enthusiasm among women and
minorities to enter the field.

Last October, a lawyer representing a black female defendant filed a
suit against the company claiming racial and gender bias. That suit,
which also requested an injunction against further intolerance by
Microsoft, is pending and is also seeking class-action status, AP
said.