Gender Discrimination Suit Against Cintas.com is a website on a charge filed with the EEOC against Cintas Corporation for alleged gender discrimination in the hiring of "Service Sales Representative" or "SSR" positions. It is sponsored by the national law firm of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP.




Introduction: Female Applicants for Driver-Sales Positions Sue Cintas Corporation
The law firm of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is co-counsel in an employment discrimination class action lawsuit against Cintas Corporation. The named plaintiffs allege that Cintas discriminates against women, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, by engaging in a nationwide policy or practice of denying sales and driving positions, known generally as "Service Sales Representative" or "SSR" positions, to female applicants.
Cintas manufactures and supplies worker uniforms and supplies, restroom supplies and promotional products. It operates 351 facilities in the U.S. and Canada.
To contact an attorney at Lieff Cabraser regarding the Cintas gender discrimination lawsuit, click here.
EEOC Determination: Reasonable Cause Exists that Cintas Has Discriminated Against Women

On April 7, 2000, plaintiff Mirna Serrano filed a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or "EEOC" alleging that Cintas discriminated against her on the basis of her sex in refusing to hire her as an SSR. Ms. Serrano charged that "[t]here are no female Drivers" at the locations where she applied, and that she was turned down despite numerous applications.

On July 3, 2002, the EEOC issued its Determination, finding that "there is reasonable cause to believe that the Charging Party's allegations are true... there is reasonable cause to believe that the Respondent has discriminated against females as a class by failing to hire them as Route Sales Drivers/Service Sales Representatives in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended."
Plaintiffs’ Class Action Allegations: Cintas Discriminates Against Women in the Hiring of SSR Positions

Plaintiffs are female applicants for SSR positions who sought such employment on or after June 12, 1999. The lawsuit is pending in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan. The proposed class currently consists of women who applied for SSR jobs nationwide. Plaintiffs have sought to amend the class to include applicants nationwide. The Court has heard argument on the proposed broadening of the class, and and the decision is pending.
The complaint alleges that Cintas discriminates against female applicants in the following ways:
  • Cintas follows a nationwide practice of delegating broad subjective discretion to its managers at its locations nationwide, allowing them to determine the standards they will or will not follow in hiring applicants for SSR positions.

  • Cintas knew or should have known that its managers were using their authority to discriminate against female applicants for SSR positions because of their sex, and has failed or refused to take effective action to stop such discrimination.

  • Cintas' managers at locations failed to hire, and continue to fail to hire, female applicants with qualifications for SSR positions equal to, or better than, the qualifications of male applicants whom they hired for such positions.
We expect a decision on class certification in early 2009.
Relief Sought
The lawsuit seeks to halt the alleged discriminatory policies and practices, and award monetary relief to class members.
Contact Us
Our legal team is interested in learning of experiences of females who might be a part of the class or who witnessed acts of discrimination. This includes anyone who applied for positions at Cintas and believe they were discriminated against because of gender. Please click here to contact Lieff Cabraser. All information will be held confidential.
About Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Founded in 1972, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is a fifty-plus attorney law firm with offices in San Francisco, California, New York, New York and Nashville, Tennessee. We represent plaintiffs in federal and state courts across America in employment discrimination cases. Our lawyers have been at the forefront of innovative and significant lawsuits advancing the rights of employees nationwide. To learn more about Lieff Cabraser, click here.
Notice on Trademarks
"Cintas" is a registered trademark of Cintas Corporation. All trademarks are used for informational purposes only. This website is in no way affiliated with Cintas Corporation.