A string of recent cases has led to some very large agreed
settlements, amounts claimed and damages ordered in the
discrimination arena. The cases highlight an apparent significant
upward shift in monetary compensation that needs to be factored in
when faced with discrimination claims. It serves as a timely
reminder to businesses of their employment responsibilities and the
consequences of not getting these decisions right. While the trend
is evident in Australia, it may be the case that Australia is
following the lead of other jurisdictions overseas.
We look at some of the cases that reflect this trend.
Australian cases
Christina Rich v PricewaterhouseCoopers
On 28 March 2008 Christina Rich, a former PricewaterhouseCoopers
(PwC) partner, walked away from the settlement of a long-running
discrimination dispute with her former employer for a reported $5
to $6 million. Initially, Ms Rich sought $11 million in
damages.
