US court stays Wipro bias case

A New Jersey federal judge has stayed a proposed class-action suit filed against Wipro by five of its former employees that alleged employment discrimination against individuals who are not South Asian.

The court also denied Wipro’s motion to dismiss and said that this matter be stayed pending the decision in another case involving Philips and Wipro that’s pending before a US district court in Texas.

Former Wipro employees Gregory MacLean, Rick Valles, Ardeshir Pezeshki, James Gibbs, and Ronald Hemenway has accused Wipro of discriminating against non-South Asians in hiring, promotion and termination decisions. They have sought compensatory and punitive damages.


When TOI contacted Wipro, the company said it does not comment on pending litigation. MacLean said while he was on the bench, he had actively sought a new position within Wipro. He said an HR employee had sent him a list of open positions, one of which was located in San Diego, close to his home.

MacLean alleged that when he expressed interest in that position, the employee said the position had already been filled. He alleged that Wipro made no visible effort to locate him in a new position. MacLean is said to have been terminated in early 2019.