The California Civil Rights Department has revealed that Snap Inc. has
agreed to pay $15 million to settle the lawsuit it filed "over alleged
discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against women at the company."
California's civil rights agency started investigating the company behind
Snapchat over three years ago due to claims that it discriminated and
retaliated against female employees. The agency accused the company of
failing the make sure that female employees were paid equally despite a
period of rapid growth between 2015 to 2022.

Women, especially those in engineering roles, were allegedly discouraged
to apply for promotions and lost them to less qualified male colleagues
when they did. The agency said that they also had to endure unwelcome
sexual advances and faced retaliation when they spoke up. Female employees
were given negative performance reviews, were denied opportunities and,
ultimately, were terminated.

"In California, we�re proud of the work of our state�s innovators who are
a driving force of our nation�s economy," CRD Director Kevin Kish said in
a statement. "We're also proud of the strength of our state�s civil rights
laws, which help ensure every worker is protected against discrimination
and has an opportunity to thrive. This settlement with Snapchat
demonstrates a shared commitment to a California where all workers have a
fair chance at the American Dream. Women are entitled to equality in every
job, in every workplace, and in every industry."

Snapchat denies that the company has an issue with pay inequality and
sexual discrimination. In a statement sent to Politico and Bloomberg, it
says it only decided to settle due to the costs and impact of a 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. While we disagreed with the California Civil Rights
Department's claims and analyses, we took into consideration the cost and
impact of lengthy litigation, and the scope of the CRD�s other
settlements, and decided it is in the best interest of the company to
resolve these claims and focus on the future," the company explains.

Under the settlement terms, which still have to be approved by a judge,
$14.5 million of the total amount will go towards women who worked as
employees at Snap Inc. in California between 2014 and 2024. The company
will also be required to have a third-party monitor audit its sexual
harassment, retaliation and discrimination compliance.

California's Civil Rights Department was the same agency that sued
Activision Blizzard in 2021 and accused the company of fostering a "frat
boy" culture that encouraged rampant misogyny and sexual harassment. The
agency also found that women in the company were overlooked for promotions
and were paid less than their male colleagues. It settled with the video
game developer in late 2023 for $54 million, though it had to withdraw its
claims that there was widespread sexual harassment at the company.

https://www.engadget.com/snap-will-pay-15-million-to-settle-california-
lawsuit-alleging-sexual-discrimination-120019788.html