Women Can Pack Sausage

(St. Louis, Missouri) The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that women can pack sausage and awarded damages to women who were denied the opportunity to pack sausage.

The decision resulted from a case filed by the EEOC against Dial Corporation claiming a pre-employment strength test discriminated against women at an Armour Star sausage-making plant in Fort Madison, Iowa. It seems that women are generally incapable of lifting 35 pounds of meat 65 inches off the floor so they failed the test and were disqualified for employment. The court declared the test a discriminatory practice since it was more difficult than what was required to perform the job.

Over $3 million was awarded to 52 rejected female job applicants.