Dell Inc. spent nearly $3 million last year for lobbyists working on a variety of bills before Congress, including multiple measures related to worker rights.
The spending came in the same year that Round Rock-based Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) settled a $9.1 million class-action gender-discrimination lawsuit projected to involve more than 2,000 female Dell employees and former employees.
Federal lobbying reports indicate that the company’s lobbyists were active in the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 and the Paycheck Fairness Act, both of which promote equal pay for women.
Dell officials said company lobbyists were “tracking” the gender discrimination legislation rather than actively lobbying in opposition to the bills. But the company acknowledged that it is opposing another proposed measure that would enable workers to have their day in court during disputes with employers.