Result: Changes in personnel policies
Year: 2011

On June 17, 2011, Best Buy and civil rights lawyers announced a settlement of an employment discrimination class action brought on behalf of women and minority employees of Best Buy. On November 9, 2011, the Court approved the settlement.

Through the settlement, Best Buy agreed to changes to its personnel policies and procedures that will enhance the equal employment opportunities of the thousands of women, African Americans, and Latinos employed by Best Buy nationwide. Plaintiffs’ counsel noted that “Best Buy’s commitment to these changes makes it a ‘best in class’ employer of women and minorities and a leader in the areas of diversity and inclusion.” Best Buy said that these changes are part of Best Buy’s continuous improvement of its employees’ experience and the systems which support that experience.

Background on the litigation

The lawsuit, filed in December 2005, alleged that Best Buy discriminates against women, African-American, and Latino employees of Best Buy retail stores in the United States by denying them promotions and more lucrative sales positions. Best Buy has denied any wrongdoing throughout the litigation.

In reaching this proposed settlement, the parties agreed that it was in the interest of Best Buy, the plaintiffs, and the employee classes to resolve the matter through a settlement that provides injunctive relief to all class members, rather than to proceed with litigation.

The case was Holloway v. Best Buy, Civil Action No. 3:05-cv-05056-PJH (N.D. Cal.).