Chapter 3

SUPPLEMENTAL CASE
Mitsubishi Believes in EEO NOW

Questions

1. Discuss why making changes such as Mitsubishi did is important both

legally and for improving HR management with the employees and
managers.
Making changes such as Misubishi did is important because:
First, the companys behavior in the past was unlawful discrimination, that is, violated
EEO law. The discrimination already caused company paid $34 million for a sexual
harassment lawsuit settlement and a multi-million-dollar settlement to African
American and Hispanic employees. If the company keeps operating this way, it would
bring it to the court again.
Second, the companys discrimination behavior brought the negative reputation to it.
If they dont change its way of treating women and different racial employees, they
would be shut down very quickly. It is important for all employees to be appreciated
instead of discriminated. If a company is an EEO company then they will have a
better reputation and more people would want to work there. This also helps the HR
department because employees will feel confident and comfortable with sharing any
issues they may have, it is good for the employees to know that they can be helped
when needed also.
2. Describe how disparate treatment and disparate impact were factors
affecting this case.
Disparate treatment occurs when members of a group are treated differently from
others. In Mitsubishi, disparate treatment was so obviously in the past. Women,
African American and Hispanic employees were being treated differently on purpose
by others. According the case, sexual graffiti was written on the fenders of cars being
assembled before they passed female production workers, pornographic photos hung
on the walls, and male workers taunted women. Female employees there felt being
singled out for specific factors relating to gender.
There was also disparate impact in this case. Disparate impact occurs when members
of a protected category are substantially underrepresented as a result of employment
decisions that work to their disadvantage. In Misubishi, this was presented by women
being sexually harassed and racial groups being treated unfairly. According to the
case, women employees complained that they were not promoted or perhaps were
even fired. African American and Hispanic employees claimed that they were
discriminated.