Nike ordered to pay $7.5 mln in gender discrimination lawsuit

Vicki M. Young Wed, July 22, 2026 at 2:47 PM PDT 3 min read

For Nike Inc., workplace discrimination now carries a price tag of at least $7.5 million in punitive damages.

An eight-member jury—comprising one woman and eight men—in an Oregon federal district court on Wednesday found that Nike discriminated against former engineer Heather Hender. The jury determined that the company paid her less than her male colleagues and promoted her more slowly during her tenure from 2015 to 2020, based on her sex.

The trial lasted six days, and the jurors deliberated for just over a day before reaching their verdict on the pay and promotion discrimination claims.

Hender’s attorney, Laura Salerno Owens of Markowitz Herbold PC in Portland, told The Oregonian:

“We are grateful to the jury for holding Nike accountable. Justice has prevailed, not just for our client, but for all women at Nike.”

She added that the victory “sends a message that workplace discrimination is unacceptable and has a price, the boy’s club culture has to go, and corporations will be held accountable for their discriminatory practices.”

The jury awarded Hender $19,739.52 in damages and determined that Nike must pay at least $7.5 million in punitive damages.

Nike’s Response

“We are disappointed by the verdict and respectfully disagree with the conclusions,” a Nike spokesperson told Footwear News.

The spokesperson continued:

“Nike is committed to providing a workplace where employees are treated fairly, compensated competitively, and given opportunities to grow and succeed. When concerns are raised, we take them seriously. We investigate them thoroughly, address issues where appropriate, and continually review our policies and practices to strengthen our workplace. We are grateful for the service of the jurors and court staff and we respect the legal process as we evaluate our next steps. Our focus remains on supporting our employees and continuing to build a culture grounded in respect, accountability, and opportunity for all.”

Although the jury has made its determination, Nike retains the right to file an appeal with the Ninth Circuit appellate court.

Background of the Case

The case began in 2018 when four employees at the time sued the sports apparel and footwear giant for sex discrimination. Each alleged they were paid less than their male colleagues for substantially similar work. According to the plaintiffs, women were paid an average of $11,000 less than their male counterparts. The plaintiffs also claimed they had fewer promotion opportunities.

Court documents cited Nike’s “job architecture” and “job groupings” as the tools used to achieve the alleged pay disparity.

The plaintiffs further alleged that Nike’s HR department failed to adequately address their grievances after they raised complaints internally. At one point, the plaintiffs sought class-action certification, but that was denied in 2022. Hender became the sole plaintiff after the other three settled their claims.

The lawsuit was filed less than four months after an exposé in The New York Times in April 2018 described a “toxic” boys’ club culture at the sportswear firm, allegedly promoted by an anonymous internal survey.