Smolen & Smolen Files Class Action Lawsuit on Behalf of Former Hilti Employee Alleging Gender Discrimination in Hiring and Promotions

TULSA, Okla.--(Business Wire)--
A former female employee of Hilti of America, Inc. filed a class action gender
discrimination lawsuit today in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Oklahoma. The plaintiff claims that Hilti`s hiring and
promotion practices create a glass ceiling throughout the United States by
preventing women from advancing beyond entry-level sales positions.

According to the Complaint, while women fill a substantial percentage of the
entry-level sales positions, more than 90 percent of the employees in the
second-level sales jobs are men. Very few, if any, women rise above the
second-level, with the result that all (or virtually all) decision-makers are
males.

Plaintiff Ronica Tabor interviewed for a second-level sales position after
exemplary performance in an entry-level position. She alleges that during the
interview, the decision-maker commented that women had to work harder than men
to learn how to use and sell tools because tools are like guns, which come
natural to men, and inappropriately told her to discuss the position with her
husband because she had a young child. After Ms. Tabor complained to Hilti`s
human resources department, her application was denied and a man was hired into
the position she sought.

Hilti is a worldwide leader in the manufacture and sale of high-end construction
tools. Its United States operations are headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"It is shocking that a company as sophisticated as Hilti would make blatantly
stereotypical and discriminatory comments to our client, and that its HR
department would essentially blame her when she complained," said Daniel Smolen
of Smolen & Smolen, one of the attorneys for the plaintiff. He added, "It is
shameful that such a small percentage of women are permitted to advance beyond
entry-level positions."

If you believe that you have information about similar discrimination in Hilti`s
hiring or promotion decisions, please email your contact information to our
secure mailbox: genderdiscrimination@gmail.com.

ABOUT THE FIRM

The Law Office of Smolen & Smolen, PLLC, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, limits its
practice to employment law and catastrophic personal injury claims. The firm has
diligently prosecuted employment discrimination claims against a number of large
corporate employers.

Infinite Public Relations, LLC
Jamie Diaferia, 212-687-0935
jdiaferia@infinitepr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009