Major Jewellery Company Reaches $175 Million Settlement Of Gender Bias Lawsuit

On Thursday, Sterling Jewelers-owner Signet Jewelers Ltd announced a $175 million settlement of a long-running gender bias lawsuit in which 68,000 female Sterling Jewelers employees claimed the retailer had paid women less and promoted them less often than their male counterparts. 

Sterling was originally sued in 2008, accused of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the federal Equal Pay Act.

The $175 million settlement averts a September 5 arbitration that would have proceeded on a classwide basis, potentially subjecting the company to greater liability. 

While the settlement centred on unequal pay and promotions between 2004 and 2018, the case attracted greater attention after some female Sterling employees claimed they had been sexually harassed during their time at the company.

Sterling Jewelers has denied wrongdoing.