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Woman demoted for being a mum

Software outfit sued
Tuesday, 23 June 2009, 11:30

SOFTWARE OUTFIT Konami is in hot water after it cut a woman's salary to "provide a better working environment for her child."

When Konami employee Yoko Sekiguchi returned from maternity leave, she was demoted and her wages cut by $2,080 a month.

Sekuguchi's job apparently involved travelling a bit to acquire license deals for Konami. However without really consulting her, Konami thought it would be better for her child that she did something else when she returned. Something that did not cost as much for them to hire her to do, obviously.

The fact that, instead of her being worried about not spending enough time with her child, she would not be able to afford to feed the kid, did not seem to occur to Konami.

Not surprisingly, Sekuguchi's is suing the company for $343,000 in damages. She said that being forced to lessen your career to raise a child is sexual discrimination. After all, it would not demote a man so he could spend more time at home if his wife got pregant. µ

 

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Considering Japan's paltry birth-rate, they should treat her with a little more respect for contributing to delaying the looming worker shortage.

posted by : H. Ruiz, 23 June 2009 Complain about this comment
No worker shortage

Japan won't have a worker shortage. They'll import unemployed Americans, much as we 'import' Mexicans to do our work.

posted by : Mike, 23 June 2009 Complain about this comment
How about robot workers?

Then they don't need to reproduce anymore, so they could work 20 years later.

posted by : aNewbie, 23 June 2009 Complain about this comment
Details Please

Is this Konami US? If so, then it would be legal under US Law. You can't do this to normal employees, but if you're a "highly compensated" employee (typically in the top 10% of pay within a company) you can be denied reinstatement to the same job after maternity leave. Look it up, it's called the Family and Medical Leave Act.

posted by : Hmm, 23 June 2009 Complain about this comment
@Mike

That could be true in 10 years time when the US can no longer afford to pay even the interest on its debts. :)

posted by : Lans, 23 June 2009 Complain about this comment
Flame author broken

I tried to flame author, but got this:

----------8<------- <------- t spell pregnant.

posted by : Snodge, 23 June 2009 Complain about this comment
Hope she wins

the lawsuit. Ohh I got the filling that she does not like to play CONTRA OR CASTEVANIA games anymore - maybe thas reason why they are playing dirty with her!

posted by : Gerald, 23 June 2009 Complain about this comment
Sheeish Got Ticket to Rise....

My Baby Don't Care. said Living with ME was bringing her Down.Sheeish Would Never Be FREE, When I was Around.theGIRLS I'm gonna Be Srand,I Think ITS Today,Don't Know Why Sheesih Riding So HOT.

AKA Handing PINJ ball Crown To Hymne.

posted by : vondrashek, 23 June 2009 Complain about this comment
Where'd she come up with $343,000?

Even if the lawsuit took 2 years to resolve and she was working at the lower amount all the time, that amount is still at least $250,000 too much.

Lawsuits are supposed to exist to extract justice, not enrich cruel people.

posted by : Jason Goatcher, 24 June 2009 Complain about this comment
justice?

"Lawsuits are supposed to exist to extract justice, not enrich cruel people." Aww don't be to hard on her, she's just taking her lead from the RIAA.

posted by : steve, 24 June 2009 Complain about this comment
$343,000

$343,000 is more than likely the conversion from a round figure in Yen.

posted by : Pete, 24 June 2009 Complain about this comment
Cruel and Unusual Punishment

"After all, it would not demote a man so he could spend more time at home if his wife got pregant."

No employer would be so sadistic.

"Lawsuits are supposed to exist to extract justice, not enrich cruel people."

Nope. Lawsuits exist so we can settle our disputes without gunning each other down in the street like the dogs that we are. It's not this lady's fault that the government has allowed her to sue Konami for demoting her. She's just exercising her rights.

posted by : Daryl Herbert, 25 June 2009 Complain about this comment
I can't imagine

I can't imagine that Japan would have any laws in place that would protect her rights.
I thought that all Japanese people have to obey the will of the companies they work for no mater what.
If the company tells her to jump off the roof then she must obey, etc. and that Japanese people find this way of life traditional and not unusual.

posted by : Loki Sunrider, 25 June 2009 Complain about this comment
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