Microsoft is being sued in a class action filing over gender discrimination.

The suit alleges that the technology giant engaged in “systematic and pervasive discrimination” against females employees in technical and engineering roles.

Katie Moussouris, the main plaintiff in the case, who is now working for HackerOne, claims: gender bias resulted in “female technical professionals receiving less compensation than similar men, the promotion of men over equally or more qualified women, and less favorable performance evaluation of female technical professionals compared to male peers."

The suit is asking for back pay, monatary damages as well as punitive damages. It further is calling for an injuction to stop Microsoft from continuing the alleged conduct.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Seattle, Washington by former technician Katherine Moussouris, who claims she was passed over for promotions given to less-qualified men and was told supervisors did not like her "manner or style."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, men in the tech industry last year earned about 24 percent more than their female colleagues.

Source: Reuters