A new lawsuit alleges Vice Media violated US equal opportunity laws by paying their women workers less than men who do the same jobs.

Elizabeth Rose was a project manager in the Los Angeles office of the news and lifestyle (and skateboards and weed) website and cable TV outlet.  Her lawsuit charged that the men took home much more pay than the women who did the same work.  At one point, a man she hired was making US$25,000 a year more than her - and that was before he was promoted to be her supervisor because he was a "good personality fit" for Vice's male clients.

"She hired someone who made more than her, who was essentially groomed to be her supervisor.  What greater form of discrimination and oppression than paying someone less for their services because of their sex?" asked her lawyer Michael Morrison.

"Defendants discriminate against women by permitting their predominantly male leadership to favor men overtly in pay, promotions, and other opportunities regardless of their qualifications and to otherwise discriminate against women," Morrison added.  "Defendants' leadership fosters or condones a company culture that marginalizes, demeans, and undervalues women."

Vice says it was still reviewing the lawsuit, and it has made a "significant commitment to a respectful, inclusive and equal workplace". 

But last month, Vice was much more self-critical:  "From the top down, we have failed as a company to create a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone, especially women, can feel respected and thrive."

That earlier statement came after a piece in The New York Times revealed allegations of unwanted groping and kissing by men in power, and the terminations of employees who wouldn't go along with it.