Disney has agreed to a $43 million settlement (€41 million) over allegations that thousands of women were paid less than their male counterparts for years. The settlement still requires court approval. The company maintains that it has always aimed to pay its employees fairly. The settlement covers thousands of women who have worked for Disney as employees since 2015.
The case began in 2019 with Ronda Rasmussen, a financial analyst at the company. In 2017, she discovered that six male colleagues in the same role were earning more than she was. After raising the issue, she received a $25,000 raise. Eventually, Disney was sued by a group of 9,000 current and former female employees. Allegations included that the company based salaries on what employees had earned at previous jobs, which may have reinforced wage disparities.
An investigation commissioned by the plaintiffs found that some women were paid 2% less than their male colleagues. Disney has disputed the findings of this investigation, but has agreed to use the results to allocate the settlement funds. Disney’s attorneys argued that, given the wide variety of jobs, it was impossible to fairly compare employees’ skills and experience.
“We have always been committed to paying our employees fairly, and this case demonstrates that commitment. We are pleased to have resolved this matter,” a Disney spokesperson told Variety.