Contents of the Lawsuit

Proctor & Gamble faces civil suit in Japan for discriminating against　woman with disability

A Whistleblower with P&G Faced Retaliation and Disciplinary Action for Correcting Intra-company Misinformation

June 25, 2025, 2:00 PM–Tokyo District Court Press Club

Overview

On June 25, 2025, a former employee of Proctor & Gamble filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court seeking damages for unfair disciplinary action. The plaintiff claims she was subjected to retaliatory measures after pointing out that internal training materials at P&G contained misleading descriptions of people with differences of sex development. The materials caused her serious mental distress.

Background

Within P&G, intra-company training materials were widely disseminated an internal LGBTQ+ ally group that mischaracterized individuals with differences of sex development as 'intersex', and describing them a combination of male and female. While employed at P&G, the plaintiff, who was born with MRKH syndrome—a difference of sex development—repeatedly requested that the company to correct these misconceptions, emphasizing their congenital medical status, and difference from disorders of gender identity.

Whistleblowing and Retaliation

From June 2023, the plaintiff submitted four internal whistleblower reports through the company’s Compliance Helpline (WBCM), seeking corrections and preventive measures. Instead of addressing the issue, P&G configured a system to automatically forward any emails she sent that contained keywords like 'INTERSEX' or 'GABLE' to the company’s HR department. The plaintiff developed a stress disorder, and was later subjected to a disciplinary action. She ultimately resigned in May 2025.

Legal Claims

This lawsuit alleges the following illegal acts and responsibilities of P&G:

● Failing to correct false training materials, including the claim that individuals with differences of sex development are “a combination of male and female”

● Sharing the plaintiff’s confidential whistleblower report with related parties and taking retaliatory action, including disciplinary measures and surveillance

● Imposing a work order prohibiting internal communication and social media posts, and issuing disciplinary action based on false grounds 

Contrary to P&G’s stated commitment to 'Equality & Inclusion,' this case shows how the voices and realities of minority individuals are systematically silenced at P&G