Snapchat to Pay $15 Million to Settle Discrimination Lawsuit
(June 20, 2024) — Snapchat Inc. has agreed to pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit brought by California’s Civil Rights Department, which accused the company of discriminating against female employees, failing to prevent workplace sexual harassment, and retaliating against women who complained.
The settlement for the Snapchat discrimination lawsuit, announced Wednesday, applies to women who worked for Snapchat in California between 2014 and 2024. It follows a three-year investigation into claims that the Santa Monica-based company discriminated against female employees in terms of pay and promotions.
Most of the settlement funds will go to employees who faced discrimination. Despite disagreeing with the claims, Snapchat decided to settle to avoid lengthy litigation.
“We care deeply about our commitment to maintain a fair and inclusive environment at Snap, and do not believe we have any ongoing systemic pay equity, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation issues against women,” the company stated.
The lawsuit highlighted that Snapchat’s growth from 250 employees in 2015 to over 5,000 in 2022 did not benefit female employees, particularly in engineering roles. Women were often discouraged from applying for promotions and lost opportunities to less qualified male colleagues.
The settlement requires Snapchat to hire an independent consultant to review its compensation and promotion policies, retain an outside auditor for compliance with sexual harassment, retaliation, and discrimination policies, and train its staff on preventing such issues. Snapchat will also inform all employees of their rights to report harassment or discrimination without fear of retaliation.
If you or someone you know has experienced workplace discrimination or harassment, contact the experienced attorneys at RTM Law Firm. Our team is dedicated to ensuring your rights are protected and you receive fair compensation for any injustices faced.
